Kenya’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 5.6% in April 2026, up from 4.4% in March, marking the highest level since March 2024. The increase was driven primarily by higher petroleum product prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East, which sharply raised transportation costs (10% vs 3.8% in March).
Additional upward pressure came from several key categories: food and non-alcoholic beverages (8.8% vs 7.7%), housing and utilities (2.4% vs 2%), education (3.2% vs 3.3%), and miscellaneous goods and services (2.7% vs 2.5%).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 1.4% in April, following a 0.5% increase in March. Inflation is expected to accelerate further in the coming months, despite government efforts to cushion households, including a reduction in fuel taxes.