Why You'll Pay More For These 9 Food Items Next Month
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the rise in inflation was due to an increase in the prices of food, transport, housing, water, electricity and gas.
Marvin Chege 
Kenya's inflation rate surged to 4.1 per cent in April 2025, up from 3.6 per cent in March 2025, an eight-month high. Moreover, the prices of common food items such as maize, potatoes, and green vegetables are set to increase in May.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the rise in inflation was due to an increase in the prices of food, transport, housing, water, electricity and gas.
“Overall year-on-year (annual) inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 4.1 per cent, in April 2025; an increase from an inflation rate of 3.6 per cent recorded in March 2025. The month-to-month inflation rate was 0.3 per cent in April 2025,” a report by KNBS on Wednesday, April 30, read in part.
Inside a supermarket in Kenya. /CITIZEN DIGITAL
The bureau reported a 7.1% rise in the food and non-alcoholic drinks index over the past year, while transport costs went up by 2.3%.
Meanwhile, the index for housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels saw a modest 0.8% increase over the same period.
According to KNBS, from April 2024 to April 2025, the prices of key food items surged: sukuma wiki jumped 32.8%, tomatoes rose 25.5%, cabbages 18.1%, traditional vegetables 17.9%, potatoes 17.6%, beef with bones 7.8%, 2kg of fortified maize flour 6.5%, cooking oil 5.9%, and maize grain 5.8%.
On the flip side, wheat flour prices are dropping by 2.2%, while spinach, kale, and cabbage prices are down by 2.3%, 2.3%, and 4.0%, respectively.
Despite a drop in fuel prices recently announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), public transport fares aren’t expected to come down anytime soon. In fact, fares for matatus and buses from Nairobi to Malindi are set to jump by 22.2%.
EPRA's latest review shows Super Petrol currently retailing at Ksh174.63, Diesel at Ksh164.86, and Kerosene at Ksh148.99 per litre—reflecting small cuts of Ksh1.95, Ksh2.20, and Ksh2.40 respectively.
Electricity costs for 50 kilowatt-hours are rising by 3.8%, and refilling a 13kg gas cylinder will cost 0.3% more.
Year-on-year, consumer prices went up by 4.1% in April—slightly below the Central Bank’s projected 4.2%, but higher than March’s 3.6%. Monthly inflation came in at 0.3% in April, per KNBS data.
Although inflation has been climbing since its low of 2.7% in October, it’s still well within the Central Bank's target range of 2.5% to 7.5%.
