Motorists across Kenya are set to enjoy modest relief at the pump after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced a downward adjustment in fuel prices following a reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT).
In an addendum to its earlier April pricing review, EPRA said the revised prices were prompted by a directive from the National Treasury to lower VAT on petroleum products from 13 per cent to 8 per cent under a legal notice dated April 15, 2026. The new prices took effect on April 16 and will remain in force until May 14, replacing those announced just a day earlier.
“As a result, the pump price per litre in Nairobi of Super Petrol and Diesel decreased by Sh9.37 and Sh10.21 respectively while that of Kerosene remains unchanged,” Acting EPRA Director General Dr. Joseph Oketch said in the statement.
Following the adjustment, motorists in Nairobi will now pay Sh197.60 per litre for super petrol and Sh196.63 for diesel, while kerosene remains unchanged at Sh152.78. In Mombasa, super petrol will retail at Sh194.32 and diesel at Sh193.35, with kerosene holding at Sh149.49. Prices in other towns, including Nakuru and Kisumu, have also been revised downwards.
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The regulator noted that while kerosene prices were not reduced, the subsidy on the product has been lowered from Sh108.10 to Sh96.56 per litre.
The latest review comes barely a day after EPRA had announced a sharp increase in fuel prices, which triggered public outrage. In the initial April 14 announcement, the cost of super petrol and diesel had risen significantly by Sh28.69 and Sh40.30 per litre respectively, pushing pump prices in Nairobi above Sh206 per litre.
EPRA had attributed the earlier increase to high landed costs of petroleum products in the international market, driven by global price fluctuations.
The VAT reduction has now partially offset the spike, offering some relief to households and businesses that had begun to feel the pressure of rising fuel costs. The adjustment is also expected to ease transport expenses and, in turn, stabilise the prices of goods and services in the short term.
However, despite the reduction, fuel prices remain elevated compared to previous months, underscoring the continued impact of global market dynamics on the local economy.
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