Kenya's Inflation Slightly Drops To 6.8% In November On Rising Fuel Prices

• Kenya's inflation reported a slight drop to 6.8% in November 2023, down from 6.9% recorded in October 2023
• Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reported that the rate was driven by the rising cost of fuel and other items
• The cost of transport went up by 13.6%, with electricity, gas and other fuels reporting an increase of 8.5%

TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia brings over five years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

The cost of living in Kenya continues to bite as fuel prices remain relatively high.

Kenya's inflation in November 2023 reported a slight drop to 6.8%, compared to 6.9% reported in October 2023.

What drives Kenya's inflation high?

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) showed an acceleration in fuel and other item prices.

"This was mainly driven by increases in prices of commodities under Transport (13.6%); Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other fuels (8.5%); and Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages (7.6%) between November 2022 and November 2023," read the report in part.

However, this rate is 2.7%, down from the 9.5% inflation reported during a similar period in 2022.

Food prices

Tomatoes, oranges, and wheat flour prices increased by 17.7%, 3.8% and 3.3%, respectively.

Potatoes, maize flour-sifted, and cabbages reported a drop of 7.1%, 6.5% and 3.6% in prices during the same period under review.

The housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel index increased by 0.2% between October 2023 and November 2023, mainly because of a 1.1% rise in gas and cement prices.

Fuel and electricity prices

KNBS further reported that the price of 200 kWh and 50 kWh of electricity decreased by 1% and 1.2%, respectively.

The government stabilised the price of a litre of kerosene, a move that saw its index drop by 1%.

Diesel prices also dropped, while super petrol remained unchanged.

A litre of super petrol retails at KSh KSh 217.36 in Nairobi, while diesel costs KSh 203.47. Kerosene, used by poor households, sells at KSh 203.6.