Kenya's inflation rate rises to 4.1 percent in April

Business
By Sharon Wanga | Apr 30, 2025

Food stuff sold at Tuskys Supermarket on Sunday, September 19 2021 [David Njaaga,Standard]

Kenya's inflation rate rose to 4.1 percent in April 2025, up from 3.6 percent in March, marking the highest increase since September 2024.

According to a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the 0.5 percent jump was driven mainly by higher prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages.

"The annual consumer price inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 4.1 per cent in April 2025. This implies that the general price level in April 2025 was 4.1 per cent higher than it was in April 2024," read the statement.

Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 0.4 percent, while transport costs increased by 0.5 percent.

Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels recorded a 0.3 percent increase.

These categories, which account for over 57 percent of total household expenditures across the 13 major categories, heavily influenced the overall inflation rate.

Among key food items, Irish potatoes saw a 4.0 percent increase, while loose maize grain and fortified maize flour rose by 2.9 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively.

The Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels Index also rose by 0.3 percent, driven by electricity price increases for both 50 kWh and 200 kWh consumers (3.8 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively), and gas/LPG, which went up by 0.3 percent.

The transport sector saw a 0.5 percent rise, which, according to the report, was mainly attributed to higher country bus fares during the Easter holiday season.

However, some relief was observed in the prices of vegetables and fuels.

Kale (sukuma wiki) and cabbage dropped by 2.3 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively.

Prices of kerosene, petrol, and diesel also declined by 1.6 percent, 1.1 percent, and 1.3 percent, respectively, during the review period.

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