Kenyans are once again staring at higher transport and living costs after EPRA announced a sharp increase in fuel prices, pushing Diesel to a record Ksh242.92 per litre in Nairobi.
Motorists across Kenya will pay more for fuel over the next month after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced new pump prices for the period running from May 15 to June 14, 2026.
In its latest pricing review released on Thursday, EPRA increased the price of Super Petrol by Ksh16.65 per litre and Diesel by Ksh46.29 per litre, while the price of Kerosene remained unchanged.
In Nairobi, Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene will now retail at Ksh214.25, Ksh242.92 and Ksh152.78 per litre respectively, effective from midnight for the next 30 days. Diesel has now reached the highest pump price ever recorded in Kenya.
In Mombasa, Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene will retail at Ksh211.09, Ksh239.64 and Ksh149.49 respectively.
In Nakuru, Super Petrol will retail at Ksh213.15, Diesel at Ksh242.33 and Kerosene at Ksh152.21.
EPRA attributed the latest increase to a rise in international petroleum product prices, higher landed costs of imported fuel, exchange rate pressures and the application of taxes under the current Value Added Tax (VAT) framework. The regulator noted that the prices include VAT in line with the VAT Act, 2013, Legal Notice No. 70 of April 15, 2026, the Finance Act, 2023, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024, and revised excise duty rates adjusted for inflation under Legal Notice No. 194 of 2020.
EPRA further stated that the government will cushion consumers through the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) Fund by using approximately Ksh5 billion to subsidize Diesel and Kerosene prices. Without the subsidy, the retail prices of the two products would have been significantly higher.
The latest review comes barely a month after the controversial April 2026 fuel price adjustment, when EPRA raised the price of Super Petrol by Ksh28.69 and Diesel by Ksh40.30 per litre. At the time, fuel prices in Nairobi rose to Ksh206.97 for Super Petrol, Ksh206.84 for Diesel and Ksh152.78 for Kerosene.
Following public concern over the sharp increase in April, the government later reduced the prices through additional intervention measures, lowering Super Petrol by Ksh9.37 and Diesel by Ksh10.21. This brought the revised Nairobi prices to Ksh197.60 per litre for Petrol and Ksh196.63 for Diesel, while Kerosene remained unchanged at Ksh152.78.
EPRA had earlier explained that the April price surge was driven by increased landed costs of imported fuel caused by volatility in global oil markets and a weakening Kenyan shilling against the US dollar. Recent tensions in the Middle East, particularly concerns over global crude oil supply disruptions linked to the Iran conflict, have also contributed to rising international fuel prices.
The sharp rise in Diesel prices is expected to have a wider impact on the economy since Diesel is heavily used in public transport, manufacturing, agriculture and the transportation of goods across the country. Economists warn that the increase could lead to higher transport costs and increased prices of essential commodities in the coming weeks.
By Felix Oduor Odinga