Annual consumer price inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 6.7 per cent in May 2026. This implies that the general price level was 6.7 per cent higher in May 2026 than it was in May 2025.
The price increase was primarily driven by a rise in prices of items in the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (9.4%); Transport (16.5%), and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other fuels (3.4%) over the one year. These three divisions together account for over 57 per cent of the total weight across the 13 major expenditure categories.
The overall index increased from 152.15 in April 2026 to 154.56 in May 2026, resulting in a monthly inflation rate of 1.6 per cent, while the year-on-year inflation stood at 6.7 per cent in May 2026.
Key Drivers of Kenya’s Inflation for May 2026
Between April and May 2026, most vegetables recorded notable price increases. Cabbages and spinach increased by 5.0 per cent and 5.2 per cent respectively, while tomatoes registered the highest increase at 11.2 per cent. In contrast, prices of beans and oranges declined by 0.4 per cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively.
During the period between April 2026 and May 2026, petrol prices increased by 8.4 per cent, while tuk-tuk fares rose by 12.0 per cent. Diesel recorded the highest increase at 18.4 per cent during the reference period.
Between April and May 2026, Electricity prices for households consuming 50 kWh and 200 kWh declined by 2.4 per cent and 2.2 per cent, respectively, during the reference period, while kerosene/paraffin prices increased by 25.3 per cent.
Prices of beer (lager) and cigarettes increased slightly by 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent, respectively, while miraa (khat) recorded a higher increase of 3.0 per cent during the reference period. Prices of girls’ dresses, men’s shirts, and women’s dresses each increased by 0.6 per cent.
Between April and May 2026, prices of laundry soap and detergents increased by 0.5 per cent and 0.9 per cent, respectively. On the other hand, prices of blankets declined by 0.1 per cent during the reference period.
Prices of Medicines for cholesterol and Blood pressure, general practitioner consultation services, and delivery charges increased by 0.4, 0.1 and 0.8 per cent, respectively, while the ICT index remained constant.
Prices of educational materials in May 2026
Prices of religious books increased by 1.3 per cent during the reference period, while prices of school, tertiary and preprimary and primary textbooks recorded an increase of 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent, respectively.
Education index remained constant during the period as prices of food purchased from vendors, canteens/kiosks, and hotels and restaurants increased by 0.3, 0.6 and 0.2 per cent, respectively, during the reference period.
Between April and May 2026, insurance costs remained the same while prices of sanitary towels/tampons, hair dressing services, and toilet paper/tissue paper increased by 0.6, 0.2 and 1.4 per cent, respectively.
