Kenya Inflation Rises to 6.8% in September 2026 as Food and Transport Costs Lead
By Kelvin Kibet | Updated October 9, 2026
Kenya’s annual inflation reached 6.8% in September 2026, up from 6.6% in August, as food and transport prices continued to rise, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). Prices across the Consumer Price Index basket rose 0.4% between August and September.
Which categories rose fastest?
- Food and non-alcoholic beverages: 9.5% higher than September 2025.
- Transport: 15.6% higher year-on-year.
- Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels: 3.2% higher year-on-year.
KNBS says these three divisions account for more than 57% of the weight in the overall inflation measure. Their price changes therefore have a large influence on the national figure, although the effect on an individual household depends on what it buys and how much it spends in each category.
How to read the 6.8% figure
The annual rate compares September 2026 prices with September 2025. It does not mean every item or every household’s monthly expenses rose by 6.8%. The 0.4% monthly figure compares September with August 2026 and shows that the general consumer price basket also increased during the month.
For households, the faster annual increase in food and transport points to pressure in two everyday budget areas. The headline index is an average: individual food items, fares and housing costs can move by different amounts, and some prices can fall while the overall basket rises.
What the Central Bank did on October 7
After the September inflation report, the Central Bank of Kenya’s Monetary Policy Committee met on October 7 and retained the Central Bank Rate at 8.75%. The CBK said it was weighing price pressures and risks including higher global energy and food prices, international uncertainty and possible El Niño rains.
The rate decision is not determined by one month of inflation alone. The CBR signals the monetary-policy stance; changes do not automatically or immediately set every commercial bank’s loan or deposit rate. For borrowers, the effect on an existing loan depends on its contract and whether the rate is fixed, variable or linked to a reference rate.
The next KNBS monthly CPI release is the next data point for households and policymakers to compare with September’s figures.
