Annual consumer price inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 4.5 per cent in December 2025. This implies that the general price level was 4.5 per cent higher in December 2025 than it was in December 2024.
The price increase was primarily driven by a rise in prices of items in the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (7.8 %); Transport (5.2 %), and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other fuels (1.6%) over the one year. These three divisions together account for over 57 per cent of the total weight across the 13 major expenditure categories.
Cost of basic commodities in Kenya in December 2025
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that kale-sukumawiki, maize flour loose and potatoes prices went up by 4.7, 5.1 and 2.9 per cent, respectively. Prices of sugar, cooking oil and mangoes between November 2025 and December 2025 decreased by 1.5, 0.7 and 1.6 per cent, respectively.
Over the twelve months until December 2025, the Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages division index rose by 7.8%.
During the period between November and December 2025, prices of transport-related items showed mixed trends. Country bus and matatu fares for travel between towns increased by 5.3 per cent, while prices of international flights went up by 14.4 per cent due to the effect of festive seasons.
Over the twelve months until December 2025, the index for the Transport division rose by 5.2 per cent.
Electricity price decreased by 2.8 per cent and 2.6 per cent for 50 kWh and 200 kWh, respectively, between November and December 2025. However, the price of gas/LPG rose by 0.4 per cent during the same period.
Over the twelve months until December 2025, the general price levels for the division rose by 1.6 per cent.
Between November and December 2025, traditional beer and spirits rose by 5.5 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively. Miraa prices decreased by 0.1 per cent. Over the twelve months until December 2025, the Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco, and Narcotics index rose by 2.8%.
Meanwhile, prices of women’s dresses went up by 0.7 per cent, while boys’ sports shoes went down by 0.3 per cent for the same period. Over the twelve months until December 2025, the prices under the Clothing and Footwear division rose by 1.5%.
Between November and December 2025, prices of laundry soap went down by 0.2 per cent. In contrast, gardener and domestic servant wages went up by 1.6 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively. Over the twelve months until December 2025, the prices under the Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance division rose by 1.6%.
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Between November and December 2025, medicines for managing cholesterol and blood pressure recorded an increase of 0.2 per cent. In addition, antibiotics went up by 1.8 per cent while the services for the general practitioner went up by 0.4 per cent in the same period. Over the twelve months until December 2025, the Health division index rose by 2.6%.
The prices of decoders dropped by 0.2 per cent between November 2025 and December 2025. In the same period, prices of woofers/ speakers/ tuitors went up by 1.0 per cent. The sector recorded a yearly inflation of 0.7%.
Between November and December 2025, the cost of tour/honeymoon packages increased by 0.4 per cent. In addition, the price of school textbooks, pre-primary and primary school, increased by 0.5 per cent. Over the twelve months until December 2025, the Recreation, Sport and Culture division index went up by 2.9%.
The price of education services remained constant in December 2025. Over the twelve months until December 2025, the index for the Education division increased by 2.2%.
Food purchased from hotels and restaurants, cakes and snacks increased by 0.5 per cent between November 2025 and December 2025. In addition, prices of hotel boarding and lodging/guest room increased by 0.1 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively, in the same period. Over the twelve months until December 2025, the index for the Restaurants and Accommodation Services division rose by 2.1%.
The price of insurance and financial services remained constant in December 2025. Over the twelve months until December 2025, the prices under the Insurance and Financial Services division went up by 0.1%.
Between November 2025 and December 2025, prices of personal care products recorded varying increases over the period. Prices of toilet paper and hair dressing rose by 1.5 per cent and 0.7 per cent, respectively, in the same period. Over the twelve months until December 2025, the index for the Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services division increased by 2.6%.
