Kenya's cost of living surged to a one-year high in April, with the annual inflation rate climbing to 5.6 percent. This marks a significant increase from 4.4 percent recorded in March, according to data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The Bureau noted that the general price level in April 2026 was 5.6 percent higher than in April 2025, when inflation stood at 4.1 percent, indicating a year-on-year increase of 1.5 percentage points.

The sharp rise in inflation was primarily driven by substantial increases across key sectors. The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages category saw an 8.8 percent price hike, while Transport costs surged by 10.0 percent. Prices within Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels also contributed significantly, rising by 2.4 percent. These core components have collectively pushed the overall price level to its highest point in the past twelve months.

Several essential household items experienced notable price increases. A 13kg cylinder of cooking gas, for instance, saw its price jump by 7.3 percent, now retailing at Sh3,362. Tomatoes became considerably more expensive, with a 9 percent increase, and cooking oil prices rose by 2.7 percent. Transport fares for matatus also went up, with inter-town travel costs increasing by 9.7 percent and within-town fares by 7.1 percent, a rise that KNBS directly attributed to higher fuel prices. Beyond major categories, everyday items like toilet paper rose by 1.4 percent, and service costs such as hairdressing and barber services increased by 0.3 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively.

Despite the widespread increases, there were a few areas offering slight relief to consumers. Electricity charges experienced a marginal decline of 0.6 percent. Similarly, prices for detergents dropped by 0.2 percent, and the costs of certain electronic goods, including televisions and laptops, fell marginally. Food prices also presented a mixed picture; while tomatoes and Irish potatoes saw increases of 9 percent and 2.8 percent respectively, prices for cabbage and oranges decreased by 3.3 percent and 1.9 percent.

The soaring prices of food and fuel are intensifying Kenya’s cost-of-living crisis, deeply affecting ordinary citizens and small businesses. Jane Wanjiku, a 42-year-old mother of two and a food vendor in Naivasha’s Karagita slum, shared her struggles, noting that a single tomato now costs Sh15, more than double what she paid a year ago. “We are suffering. Everything is expensive now, from food, transport, even cooking gas,” Wanjiku lamented, adding that her business earnings are no longer sufficient to keep up with the escalating expenses.