The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has officially announced new fuel prices for the April to May 2026 pricing cycle, ending weeks of speculation among motorists and businesses across the country.
In the latest monthly review released on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the regulator confirmed a sharp increase in the prices of both petrol and diesel, while kerosene prices remain unchanged.
Under the new review, the maximum pump price of Super Petrol has gone up by Ksh28.69 per litre, while Diesel has recorded an even bigger rise of Ksh40.30 per litre.
Kerosene, however, has been left unchanged in this cycle, offering a small relief to households that still rely on it for cooking and lighting.
Following the adjustment, motorists in Nairobi will now buy Super Petrol at Ksh206.97 per litre, Diesel at Ksh206.84, and Kerosene at Ksh152.78.
These revised prices take effect from midnight today and will remain in force for the next 30 days, running from April 15 to May 14, 2026.
This marks one of the steepest fuel price increases seen in recent months and is expected to have an immediate impact on daily transport and living costs.
EPRA explained that despite the sharp increase, the government has stepped in with measures aimed at cushioning consumers from an even bigger rise.
The regulator noted that the Value Added Tax (VAT) on Super Petrol, Diesel, and Kerosene has been reduced from 16 per cent to 13 per cent.
This tax reduction is intended to soften the burden caused by the rising international cost of imported petroleum products.
In addition to the VAT adjustment, the government will also use approximately Ksh6.2 billion from the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) Fund to help stabilise pump prices.
Without this intervention, the final retail prices could have been significantly higher, further worsening the already high cost of living facing many Kenyans.
In its statement, EPRA also clarified that the Super Petrol cargo delivered by One Petroleum through the MT Paloma vessel has not been factored into the pricing formula used for this review.
The authority said this follows an earlier government directive excluding that shipment from the price computation.
EPRA further revealed that the average landed cost of imported Super Petrol rose sharply by 41.53 per cent, moving from Ksh75,266.82 per cubic metre in December last year to Ksh106,526.39 per cubic metre in January 2026.
Diesel posted an even more dramatic increase in landed cost, rising by 68.72 per cent from Ksh82,292.99 to Ksh138,764.76 per cubic metre.
Kerosene recorded the biggest jump, surging by 105.15 per cent from Ksh82,684.76 to Ksh169,632.55 per cubic metre over the same period.
These increases in import costs largely explain why local pump prices have risen so sharply despite government support measures.
Across the country, fuel prices will vary depending on transport and distribution costs. In Mombasa, which usually enjoys slightly lower prices due to its proximity to the port, Super Petrol will retail at Ksh203.69 per litre, Diesel at Ksh203.56, and Kerosene at Ksh149.49.
In Nakuru and Kisumu, motorists will also feel the pressure, with Super Petrol retailing at around Ksh206 and above, while Diesel prices in both towns will remain above Ksh206 per litre during the 30-day review period.
Similar increases are expected in Eldoret and other inland towns where transport costs are higher.
The latest increase comes despite earlier assurances from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum that Kenya had enough fuel stocks. Those remarks had initially created hope among motorists and businesses that prices would either remain stable or even reduce in this cycle.
Instead, the new review has delivered a major shock, adding fresh pressure on households, transport operators, farmers, and businesses that are already struggling with the high cost of living.
Economists and market observers now expect the increase in fuel prices to trigger a ripple effect across the wider economy. Public transport fares are likely to rise first, followed by higher costs of food distribution, manufacturing, and general services.
This means ordinary consumers may soon face increased prices for basic goods and essential services as businesses pass the higher transport costs to customers.
Overall, the April–May 2026 EPRA fuel review is expected to deepen the cost-of-living pressure across Kenya, with the biggest burden likely to fall on commuters, small businesses, and low-income households in the coming weeks.
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