Kenyas inflation rate rose to 4. 5 per cent in December 2025, up from 3. 0 per cent in December 2024, driven largely by higher food and transport costs, according to a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
The statistics agency said the increase reflects rising prices of key household commodities, with Kenyans paying more for essentials such as sugar, sifted maize flour, tomatoes, potatoes, and sukuma wiki during the month under review.
KNBS noted that inflationary pressures were mainly driven by price increases in Food and Non, Alcoholic Beverages, which rose by 7. 8 per cent over the 12, month period. This was followed by Transport costs, which increased by 5. 2 percent, and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, which recorded a 1. 6 percent rise.
Inflation has generally trended upward since December 2024, when it stood at 3. 0 percent, with declines recorded only in May and November, KNBS said.
The data was collected through a nationwide spot check of retailers in both urban and rural areas during the second and third weeks of December 2025 to monitor changes in commodity prices.
Throughout the review period, most of the commodity prices went up with a few categories registering marginal declines. The costs of housing, water, and power went down slightly, while the prices of education, insurance, and financial services remained the same.
The report states that the electricity prices reduced by 2. 8 percent and 2. 6 percent for 50 kWh consumption in a comparison between November and December 2025. Nonetheless, the gas (LPG) price increased by 0. 4 percent within the same period.
Food prices exhibited mixed trends. The prices of sukuma wiki, maize flour, and potatoes went up, whereas the costs of sugar, cooking oil, and mangoes were reduced slightly. The price of a kilogram of loose maize grain was elevated from Sh68. 08 to Sh69. 39.
Transport costs also played a major role in the inflation increase. Matatu and bus fares were higher by 5. 3 percent in December.
The escalating inflation situation reflects the ongoing pressure of household budgets particularly due to food and transport costs. The cost of living remains a major concern for Kenyan consumers.
