Kenya’s latest fuel prices are in effect for the period from 15 August to 14 September 2026, with diesel falling by KSh5 per litre while Super Petrol and kerosene remain unchanged.
In Nairobi, the maximum retail price of Super Petrol remains KSh214.03 per litre, diesel falls to KSh217.86 per litre, and kerosene remains at KSh191.38 per litre. [1]
The latest Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) review provides some relief for diesel users, but it also illustrates why changes in international oil and refined-product costs do not translate directly into equivalent changes at Kenyan fuel stations.
Kenya Fuel Prices August 2026
The maximum pump prices applying in Nairobi from 15 August to 14 September 2026 are:
| Fuel | Previous Price | Current Price | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Petrol | KSh214.03/L | KSh214.03/L | No change |
| Diesel | KSh222.86/L | KSh217.86/L | -KSh5.00/L |
| Kerosene | KSh191.38/L | KSh191.38/L | No change |
EPRA reviews maximum petroleum prices monthly, with each pricing period generally running from the 15th of one month to the 14th of the next. [1]
What Changed in the Latest EPRA Review?
Diesel received the main pump-price reduction in the August review, declining by KSh5 per litre in Nairobi.
Super Petrol and kerosene prices were maintained at their previous levels despite significant changes in their underlying landed costs.
According to information released around the latest pricing cycle, the average landed cost of imported diesel fell by approximately 13.1%, from about US$984.37 to US$855.59 per cubic metre. Kerosene’s landed cost also fell, while the landed cost of Super Petrol increased. [1][2]
| Product | Previous Landed Cost | Latest Landed Cost | Approx. Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | US$984.37/m³ | US$855.59/m³ | -13.1% |
| Super Petrol | Approx. US$886–887/m³ | Approx. US$948.92/m³ | Increase |
| Kerosene | Higher previous level | Approx. US$915.01/m³ | Decrease |
These movements show why looking only at crude oil prices can be misleading. Kenya imports refined petroleum products, and the landed cost of petrol, diesel and kerosene can move differently during the same pricing cycle.
Why Cheaper Oil Does Not Automatically Mean Cheaper Fuel
Kenya’s pump prices are influenced by more than the international crude oil benchmark.
EPRA’s pricing framework takes into account the landed cost of imported refined petroleum products, the exchange rate, taxes, levies, distribution costs, margins and other regulated components. [1]
This means a fall in global crude oil prices does not necessarily produce an identical decline in petrol, diesel or kerosene prices.
The Kenyan shilling also matters because imported petroleum products are largely priced in US dollars. Currency depreciation can increase domestic fuel costs even when international product prices are stable, while a stronger or more stable shilling can reduce some of that pressure.
Government Support Also Shapes Pump Prices
Government intervention can further weaken the direct relationship between landed costs and retail fuel prices.
For the August–September 2026 pricing period, authorities used additional price-stabilisation support to cushion consumers from some increases that would otherwise have affected pump prices. Public reports indicated support of approximately KSh938 million for the latest cycle. [1][3]
The previous pricing cycle had also involved support from the Petroleum Development Levy Fund, illustrating how the government can redistribute part of the effect of rising or falling underlying fuel costs.
For businesses and consumers, this creates an important distinction: an unchanged pump price does not mean the underlying import cost of that fuel was unchanged.
Why Diesel Prices Matter to Kenyan Business
Diesel has an economic significance that extends far beyond private motorists.
It is widely used by freight operators, agricultural businesses, public transport providers, construction companies, industrial operations and backup power systems.
A lower diesel price can therefore reduce operating costs across several parts of the economy, particularly for businesses that move goods over long distances.
The eventual impact on consumer prices is less automatic. Businesses may use lower fuel costs to protect margins rather than immediately reduce prices, while other expenses such as wages, finance, maintenance and imported inputs can offset some of the benefit.
The Earlier 23.9% Diesel Cost Drop
The debate over diesel pricing did not begin with the August 2026 review.
Ahead of the latest adjustment, EBC Financial Group highlighted an earlier pricing cycle in which the reported landed cost of diesel had fallen by approximately 23.9%, from US$1,294.71 to US$984.37 per cubic metre. [4]
Despite that sharp fall in the underlying import cost, diesel remained at KSh222.86 per litre during the 15 July–14 August cycle.
That earlier episode highlighted the role of Kenya’s pricing and stabilisation mechanisms. Changes in the cost of one petroleum product can interact with government support decisions and movements in the costs of other fuels.
The latest August review subsequently reduced diesel by KSh5 per litre, but the reduction remained considerably smaller than the cumulative fall in its landed cost over the preceding pricing cycles.
Fuel Prices Vary Across Kenya
The Nairobi prices are not identical throughout the country.
EPRA sets maximum prices by location because transport and distribution costs vary depending on the distance between fuel depots and retail markets.
As a result, motorists and businesses in cities such as Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret may see different maximum retail prices from those quoted for Nairobi.
Businesses operating national vehicle fleets should therefore use the applicable EPRA location-specific price schedule rather than assuming that the Nairobi figure applies across Kenya.
What Kenya Fuel Prices Mean for Inflation and Business Costs
Fuel prices feed into several areas of the Kenyan economy.
Transport companies face direct fuel expenses. Farmers may pay more or less for machinery and distribution. Retailers and manufacturers can experience changes in logistics costs, while commuters may face adjustments in transport fares.
The significance of diesel means even relatively small per-litre changes can become material for companies operating large fleets or transporting goods over long distances.
For policymakers, the challenge is balancing consumer protection against the fiscal cost of stabilising fuel prices and ensuring that pricing mechanisms remain transparent and sustainable.
What Happens Next?
The current fuel prices remain in effect through 14 September 2026.
EPRA’s next monthly review will determine whether diesel prices continue to fall and whether changes in petrol and kerosene landed costs finally affect their maximum retail prices.
Important factors to watch include movements in international refined-product prices, the Kenyan shilling, freight and insurance costs, tax and levy policy, and the level of government price-stabilisation support.
For Kenyan businesses, the broader issue remains the same: the headline crude oil price is only one part of the cost equation. The landed price of each refined fuel and the structure of domestic regulation ultimately determine what businesses and households pay at the pump.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the petrol price in Kenya in August 2026?
In Nairobi, the maximum retail price of Super Petrol is KSh214.03 per litre for the period from 15 August to 14 September 2026. [1]
What is the diesel price in Kenya?
The maximum diesel price in Nairobi is KSh217.86 per litre, following a KSh5 reduction in the latest EPRA review. [1]
What is the kerosene price in Kenya?
The maximum kerosene price in Nairobi remains KSh191.38 per litre during the current pricing cycle. [1]
When will Kenya’s fuel prices change again?
The current EPRA fuel-price cycle runs through 14 September 2026. The next review is expected to set maximum prices for the period beginning 15 September.
Why are fuel prices different in Nairobi and other Kenyan cities?
EPRA’s maximum prices vary by location because transport and distribution costs differ across the country. Nairobi therefore does not necessarily have the same pump prices as Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret or other locations.
Why did diesel prices fall while petrol stayed unchanged?
The underlying landed costs of individual petroleum products moved differently during the pricing period. Diesel import costs fell, while Super Petrol’s landed cost increased. Government price-stabilisation measures also influenced the final pump prices. [1][2][3]
Sources and Information
[1] Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Kenya. August–September 2026 maximum petroleum prices and official pricing information.
EPRA official website
[2] Pulse Kenya. Coverage of EPRA’s August 2026 fuel-price review and changes in landed petroleum costs.
EPRA August–September fuel price review
[3] Business.co.ke. Reporting on Kenya’s August 2026 fuel prices and price-stabilisation support.
Kenya fuel-price and stabilisation coverage
[4] EBC Financial Group. Media analysis, 13 August 2026, concerning diesel landed costs and Kenya’s fuel-pricing mechanism.