The annual inflation rate in Kenya picked up to 5.6% in April 2026, the highest since March 2024, from 4.4% in the prior month. The spike in inflation reflects rising costs for petroleum products amid the Middle East conflict, which has pushed up transportation prices (10% vs 3.8% in March). Additional upward pressure came mostly from food & non-alcoholic beverages (8.8% vs 7.7%); housing & utilities (2.4% vs 2%); education (3.2% vs 3.3%) and miscellaneous goods & services (2.7% vs 2.5%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 1.4%, after a 0.5% increase in the prior month. Inflation is expected to quicken further in the coming months, despite government measures to cushion consumers, including a reduction in fuel taxes.