Kenyans could face another round of fuel price increases if the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt global petroleum supplies, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director-General Edward Mwirigi has cautioned.
Mwirigi issued the warning on Thursday, October 15, while appearing before the Special Funds Accounts Committee, where he linked the latest fuel price hike announced a day earlier to supply disruptions in the Gulf region.
The new prices, which took effect following EPRA's October 14 review, rank among the steepest increases recorded in 2026. In Nairobi, petrol will retail at Ksh226.96 per litre, diesel at Ksh227.76 and kerosene at Ksh219.87.
Explaining the factors behind the increase, Mwirigi said attacks targeting fuel infrastructure and vessels had disrupted supply chains, forcing importers to explore alternative markets, including Singapore, where petroleum products were reportedly more expensive.
The higher import costs subsequently affected the prices paid by consumers at petrol stations across the country.
The EPRA chief warned that motorists and households could face even higher fuel costs in the coming months if the conflict escalates and continues to interfere with international petroleum supplies.
During the committee proceedings, Members of Parliament questioned the regulator over the latest price adjustments, particularly in light of President William Ruto's assurances in May 2026 that pump prices would remain stabilised.
Lawmakers also sought clarification on whether Kenyans had been adequately informed about the supply challenges, including reports that two fuel vessels had been bombed.
Responding to the concerns, Mwirigi confirmed that Saudi vessels had been targeted, adding that Kenya's fuel prices remained competitive compared with those in neighbouring countries despite the mounting pressure on international supply chains.
A day earlier, the EPRA boss had described September as 'the worst month' for fuel prices since the conflict began, citing a sharp rise in the cost of petroleum products on the international market.
“September has been the worst month ever since this war broke out. Super petrol has reached USD 1,300 per metric tonne from the initial USD $600 per metric tonne," EPRA Director General Engineer Edward Mwirigi Kinyua told the press on Wednesday, October 14.
The remarks highlighted the scale of the increase in international petroleum costs and the challenges facing the government as it seeks to cushion consumers from rising fuel prices.
In a development that could offer temporary relief, the National Assembly has passed the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeking to retain the reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) rate of 8 per cent on petroleum products for another three months.
The Bill, sponsored by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, seeks to prevent the VAT rate on petrol, diesel and kerosene from reverting to the standard 16 per cent. Maintaining the lower rate could help limit the tax component of pump prices at a time when international market pressures are driving up import costs.
However, the latest fuel price review has also raised concerns over the cost of public transport, with matatu operators signalling the possibility of increasing fares by up to 10 per cent.
Should the proposed fare adjustments materialise, commuters could face additional transport expenses as households contend with the rising cost of fuel and other essential goods.
The prospect of further increases now hinges partly on developments in the Middle East, with prolonged disruptions threatening to push petroleum import costs higher and intensify pressure on Kenya's domestic fuel prices.
