Pain at the pump: Petrol price rises by Ksh.28, Diesel by Ksh.40 in latest EPRA review

Motorists across Kenya will pay more for fuel over the next month after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced an increase in pump prices for the period between April 15 and May 14, 2026.

In its latest pricing review announced on Tuesday, EPRA indicated that the cost of Super Petrol and Diesel has gone up by Ksh.28.69 and Ksh.40.30 per litre respectively, while the price of Kerosene remains unchanged.

The adjustments, EPRA said, reflect a rise in international petroleum product prices, coupled with exchange rate fluctuations and the application of statutory taxes under the Value Added Tax (VAT) framework.

“Effectively, the Value Added Tax rate on Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene has been reduced from 16% to 13% in order to cushion consumers from the high landed cost of petroleum products as a result of the escalated prices in the international market,” acting EPRA Director General Dr. Joseph Oketch said in the statement.

“The Government will further cushion the consumers through the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) Fund by utilizing approximately Ksh.6.2 billion to stabilize the pump prices.”

He added: “We wish to reiterate that as per the earlier directive from Government, the Super Petrol delivered by One Petroleum ex MT Paloma has not been included in the computation of the applicable prices.”

In Nairobi, the maximum retail price for Super Petrol now stands at Ksh.206.87 per litre, with Diesel retailing at Ksh.206.84 and Kerosene at Ksh.152.78 per litre.

In Mombasa, Super Petrol will go for Ksh.203.69, Diesel (Ksh.203.56) and Kerosene (Ksh.149.49), while in Kisumu it will be Ksh.206.85, Ksh.207.06, and Ksh.153.03 for Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene respectively.

The regulator attributed the increase largely to a spike in landed costs, the price at which fuel is imported into the country, between February and March.

Over the review period, the landed cost of Super Petrol rose sharply by 41.53 per cent, while Diesel and Kerosene increased by 68.72 per cent and 105.15 per cent.

EPRA further noted that global fuel prices remain volatile, with petroleum products traded in United States dollars and influenced by international market dynamics.

The exchange rate, therefore – it stated - continues to play a critical role in determining local pump prices.

Despite the increase, EPRA maintained that the pricing framework is guided by regulations aimed at ensuring fairness, competition, and consumer protection while allowing oil marketers to recover costs.

The new prices take effect from midnight April 14 and will remain in force until May 14, 2026.