Kenya’s cooking-fuel squeeze is getting worse even as electricity gets cheaper – KNBS

New data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has revealed that the cost of cooking fuels in Kenya is rising rapidly, even as electricity prices are falling. Kerosene prices surged by 23.5 percent over the past year, reaching Ksh192.56 per litre in September 2026, up from Ksh155.96 in September 2025. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) also remained significantly more expensive than a year ago, with a 13-kilogram cylinder costing Ksh3,419.24 in September, an 8.5 percent increase from Ksh3,151.65 a year earlier.

Charcoal prices rose by 7.2 percent annually, with a kilogram priced at Ksh99.52 in September, compared to Ksh92.87 in September 2025.

The figures indicate that the annual increase in these three cooking fuels is much higher than the decline in electricity prices over the same period. Electricity prices dropped by 1.2 percent for 50 kWh and 1.1 percent for 200 kWh, making it somewhat cheaper for users. However, the cost of cooking with kerosene, LPG, and charcoal remained significantly higher than a year ago.

Firewood prices also increased by 1.8 percent, while charcoal prices went up by 1.6 percent. Despite the overall rise in cooking fuel costs, LPG prices only decreased by 0.2 percent. The mixed trends in household energy costs highlight the significant role of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which contributed 2.8 percentage points to the overall September inflation rate of 6.8 percent.