The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has reduced diesel prices by Sh10.06 per litre while sharply increasing kerosene prices by Sh38.60 in a mid-cycle fuel review announced following protests and a transport shutdown by public service vehicle (PSV) operators over the rising cost of fuel. In the latest review, EPRA stated that the revised maximum pump prices will take effect from May 19, 2026 to June 14, 2026. The authority explained that the adjustment followed a petition from public transport operators and was aimed at reducing the risk of fuel adulteration caused by the widening price gap between diesel…
Author: Davin Muthoni
Ride-hailing company Bolt has increased ride charges in Kenya by six per cent following rising fuel prices that have pushed up operating costs for drivers. The company announced the fare adjustment on Tuesday, saying the move was aimed at cushioning driver-partners affected by the sustained increase in pump prices while maintaining reliable transport services for customers. Under the latest review announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority on April 16, petrol in Nairobi currently retails at Sh197.60 per litre, diesel at Sh196.63 and kerosene at Sh152.78. The prices remain in force until May 14, when new rates are expected.…
Kenyans could face serious health and environmental risks following the government’s decision to relax fuel quality standards and allow the importation of higher sulphur petroleum products into the country. Experts warn that the move could expose millions to harmful emissions linked to respiratory illnesses, while motorists brace for rising vehicle maintenance costs caused by the low-grade fuel already circulating in the market. The imported petrol and diesel now contain sulphur levels of up to 50mg/kg, a sharp increase from the previous limit of 10mg/kg. Specialists say the higher sulphur concentration produces dangerous particulate matter and sulphur dioxide emissions, both associated…
Fresh government data has cast doubt on job creation claims tied to the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP), contradicting figures repeatedly cited by President William Ruto and senior State officials. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Economic Survey 2026, total employment in Kenya’s construction sector stood at 728,400 last year, up from 692,600 in 2024. This reflects an increase of 35,800 jobs, or 5.2 per cent growth, across both formal and informal segments. The data challenges assertions that the AHP has generated hundreds of thousands of jobs since its launch in September 2022. KNBS attributed sector growth to…
President William Ruto’s first three years in office have delivered mixed economic results, with slower growth and modest gains in purchasing power compared with his predecessors, according to the latest Economic Survey. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded by 4.6 per cent in 2025 – the lowest rate in three years and a slowdown from 4.7 per cent in 2024 and 5.7 per cent in his first full year in office. While the economy has continued to grow, the pace lags behind the early years of former Presidents Mwai Kibaki…
Kenya and Uganda are in talks to establish a regional oil refinery in Tanzania, with Africa’s richest industrialist pledging support for the project aimed at reducing reliance on imported fuel. The proposed facility, to be located in Tanga, is expected to process crude oil from several East African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in a move leaders say will strengthen regional energy security. Speaking during the Africa We Build Summit 2026 in Nairobi, President William Ruto confirmed the discussions, saying: “We are discussing a refinery in Tanzania. We are discussing that we have…
Kenya has sharply increased its domestic borrowing target for the current financial year ending June 30, raising concerns about tighter access to credit for households and businesses. New data from the National Treasury shows the target has risen by 52.29 per cent, from Sh1.09 trillion to Sh1.66 trillion, with Sh965.87 billion already secured by the end of March 2026. The move highlights growing pressure on the local credit market, as the government turns to domestic sources such as Treasury bonds and bills largely financed by commercial banks, pension funds and insurance firms. According to Treasury figures, the revised borrowing plan…
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) collected KSh 2.038 trillion in revenue by March 31, 2026, narrowly missing its nine-month target of KSh 2.122 trillion for the period between July 2025 and March 2026. Despite the shortfall, the tax authority recorded notable growth compared to the KSh 1.829 trillion collected during the same period in the previous financial year. “This represents a performance rate of 96.1% and an 11.4% growth over the corresponding period in the previous financial year,” KRA said in a statement on Tuesday. KRA attributed the improved performance to increased efficiency in tax administration, enhanced digital systems, and…
Kenya’s public pension bill has for the first time surpassed the Sh200 billion mark, underscoring the growing financial strain on the Exchequer already grappling with delays in disbursing payments to retired civil servants. Data from the National Treasury shows that Sh207.19 billion was spent on pensions and gratuities in the financial year ending June 2025—a 39 percent increase from the Sh148.9 billion spent in the previous year. This surge means pension payments now account for 11.6 percent of total disbursements under the Consolidated Fund Services (CFS), up from 8.4 percent a year earlier. Despite the increased budget, pensioners continue to…
Health experts have raised alarms over the increasing reliance on instant noodles among Kenyan households, particularly as busy parents turn to the quick-fix meals to manage evening routines. Across many urban and peri-urban areas in Kenya, instant noodles have become a staple food, praised for their affordability, speed of preparation, and child-friendly taste. In numerous middle-class homes, they now sit on kitchen shelves alongside maize flour and rice. For working parents—especially mothers juggling demanding careers with household responsibilities—noodles are often the go-to dinner solution. “I get home at 7 p.m. By that time, the children are hungry, there’s homework to…
