Fuel prices in Kenya affect everything — from the cost of your matatu fare to the price of unga at your local shop. Yet many Kenyans don’t know exactly what they should be paying at the pump, or why prices change every two months.
This guide explains how Kenya fuel prices work, how they are set, and how you can always check the current price before you fill up.
How Kenya fuel prices are set
Petrol and diesel prices in Kenya are regulated by EPRA — the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority. EPRA publishes maximum pump prices every two months, typically around the 14th or 15th of even months.
Petrol stations must not sell above the regulated maximum price. The regulated price is calculated using a formula that includes:
- The international price of crude oil and refined products
- The Kenya shilling/US dollar exchange rate
- Import costs and port handling at Mombasa
- Pipeline transport costs from Mombasa to Nairobi
- Taxes and levies (Road Maintenance Levy, excise duty, VAT)
- Regulated margins for oil companies and petrol station dealers
Why fuel prices change
The two biggest drivers of Kenya fuel prices are the global oil price and the Kenya shilling exchange rate. When global oil prices rise, or when the shilling weakens against the dollar, Kenya pump prices typically increase at the next EPRA review.
Current Kenya fuel prices
You can always check the current EPRA-regulated petrol, diesel and kerosene prices on Legit Index KE — Kenya’s free price tracker. Legit Index pulls from official EPRA data and updates within 24 hours of each review.
The prices on Legit Index cover:
- Petrol (Super PMS) — per litre, Nairobi
- Diesel (AGO) — per litre, Nairobi
- Kerosene (IK) — per litre
- Price history and trend charts for each fuel type
Nairobi vs other towns
EPRA publishes maximum prices for Nairobi as the baseline. Other towns have different prices due to transport costs — Mombasa is typically 2–4 shillings per litre cheaper than Nairobi, while remote towns can be 5–15 shillings higher.
How fuel prices affect the cost of living
Fuel prices ripple through the entire Kenyan economy. When petrol prices rise, matatu fares increase, delivery costs push up retail prices, and food prices rise because it costs more to transport produce from farms to markets.
This is why tracking fuel prices — alongside food, LPG gas, and electricity token prices — gives you a complete picture of Kenya’s cost of living. Legit Index KE tracks all of these in one place, updated regularly.
Is my petrol station overcharging me?
If a petrol station is charging above the EPRA maximum price, this is illegal. Check the current maximum at Legit Index KE and report overcharges to EPRA at epra.go.ke. Under the Consumer Protection Act 2012, you are entitled to pay no more than the regulated maximum.
Track fuel prices with Legit Index KE
Legit Index KE is Kenya’s free community price tracker showing current and historical prices for petrol, diesel, kerosene, LPG, electricity tokens, unga, rice and more — all in one place.
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