The cost of several essential goods and services increased in September 2026, with higher prices recorded for milk, wheat flour, air travel and household items.
This is even as consumers benefited from lower costs for tomatoes, maize flour, sugar and electricity, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Consumer Price Indices and Inflation Rates Report for September 2026.
The report shows that food prices registered mixed movements during the period. White wheat flour prices increased by 4.5 per cent, while fresh unpacketed cow milk and fresh packeted milk rose by 5.8 per cent and 6.0 per cent respectively. In contrast, tomato prices declined by 4.1 per cent, loose maize flour fell by 1.9 per cent, and sugar prices eased by 0.4 per cent, offering some relief to households.
Transport costs also moved in different directions. Inter-town bus and matatu fares declined by 1.0 per cent, while fares within towns and their environs dropped by 0.3 per cent. However, international air travel recorded one of the sharpest increases across all categories, rising by 8.1 per cent.
Cost of firewood, electricity in Kenya in September 2026
In the energy sector, firewood and charcoal prices rose by 1.8 per cent and 1.6 per cent respectively, while electricity costs for 200 kWh consumption declined by 2.2 per cent and LPG prices fell marginally by 0.2 per cent.
Beyond food and transport, KNBS reported increases across several household spending categories. Detergents and laundry soap each rose by 0.5 per cent, while toilet paper recorded a 1.3 per cent increase. Cigarette and beer prices also edged up. In education, private secondary school tuition fees increased by 0.4 per cent, particularly in international schools, while pre-primary tuition fees declined slightly.
Healthcare costs remained relatively stable, with medicines for cholesterol and blood pressure registering a slight decline of 0.1 per cent. However, dewormers rose by 0.8 per cent while antibiotic prices increased by 0.2 per cent. Mobile handset prices rose by 0.3 per cent, while laptop prices eased by 0.1 per cent.
The report further noted increases in pet food, religious books, hotel beverages and accommodation charges, while insurance and financial services remained unchanged during the period.
