A Reprieve at the Pump: Kenya Holds Nairobi Petrol Prices Flat

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has kept retail petroleum prices in Nairobi flat for the September to October pricing cycle, leaving motor vehicle owners, transport operators and households with unchanged operating costs for the next 30 days.

Under the latest monthly review published by the regulator, super petrol will continue to trade at KSh 214.03 per litre in Nairobi, while kerosene remains at KSh 191.38 per litre. Diesel, the primary driver of commercial transport and agricultural machinery, drops slightly by 2.24 per cent to KSh 217.86 per litre in the capital, down from its previous level.

For Kenyan consumers and businesses, the decision means transport fares, electricity generation surcharges and retail food distribution costs will not face fresh upward pressure from energy inputs this month. However, the lack of a broader price cut means logistics providers and households must continue navigating elevated fuel overheads that remain significantly higher than historical averages.

In coastal and inland regional hubs, prices reflect standard pipeline and road transport differentials from the main discharge terminal. According to data released by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, super petrol in Mombasa trades at KSh 210.87 per litre, while diesel fell 2.28 per cent to KSh 214.

58 per litre and kerosene remained flat at KSh 188.09 per litre. In Nakuru, petrol stands at KSh 212.92 per litre, diesel at KSh 217.27 per litre (a 2.25 per cent decline) and kerosene at KSh 190.81 per litre. Western Kenya hubs in Eldoret and Kisumu recorded petrol at KSh 213.69 per litre, kerosene at KSh 191.

63 per litre, and diesel at KSh 218.09 and KSh 218.08 per litre respectively, both reflecting a 2.24 per cent reduction.

Stability At The Pump

The decision to hold petrol prices steady comes as commercial transporters watch operating margins closely amid broader economic pressures. Because diesel powers public service vehicles, freight trucks and industrial generators, the minor KSh 5.00 reduction per litre offers marginal relief to heavy fleet operators without altering overall freight rates.

Kerosene, which serves as the main lighting and cooking fuel for low-income urban and rural households, saw no price adjustment, maintaining pressure on domestic energy budgets.

Retail pump prices in Kenya are calculated using a monthly formula that factors in landed costs of refined petroleum products, foreign exchange rates, pipeline transport tariffs, oil marketer margins and government taxes. By maintaining the current ceiling, the regulator aims to smooth out volatility in international cargo landing costs before they hit local retail outlets.

Regional Price Differentials

The cost of fuel varies across Kenya due to the distance required to truck refined products from the Port of Mombasa and secondary storage depots controlled by the Kenya Pipeline Company.

The table below summarizes retail prices across key urban centres for the September to October cycle:

Media reports, including coverage by The Star, confirm that the new pricing matrix took effect at midnight and will guide pump charges until the next scheduled review on 14 October.

Next Outlook

Market watchers and logistics firms will focus on global crude benchmarks and US Dollar exchange rate trends over the coming month to gauge whether the regulator will have scope to lower petrol and kerosene ceilings in the October review.

For now, businesses must manage fixed transport overheads, while consumers face stable but high energy costs through mid-October.