Importing a vehicle into Kenya remains one of the most popular ways for individuals, businesses, ride-share operators, and fleet managers to acquire reliable, cost-effective cars—especially in a market where new-vehicle prices often exceed KSh 5–10 million for popular SUVs and saloons. In 2026, the process is tightly regulated by three core authorities: the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for customs valuation and taxation, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) for pre-shipment conformity and age/roadworthiness compliance, and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) for final registration and road-use approval. The landscape shifted significantly at the start of 2026. Effective January 1, 2026, KEBS enforced a stricter interpretation of the long-standing eight-year age limit under KS 1515:2000 (Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles) and Legal Notice No. 78 of 2020. Only Right-Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles whose year of first registration is January 1, 2019, or late...
Understanding the EPRA Fuel Prices Today: A Definitive Guide to Kenya's Regulated Fuel Market
For millions of Kenyan drivers, businesses, and households, the petrol price in Kenya today is a critical monthly economic event. Unlike markets driven by daily retail competition, Kenya's fuel sector is governed by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). This agency publishes the new fuel prices in Kenya today 2025 on the 14th of every month, setting the maximum retail price for Super Petrol, Diesel, and Kerosene for the next 30 days.
This 1,000+ word article delves into the precise components of the EPRA pricing formula, providing the current prices and offering expert analysis on how global commodity movements, logistics costs to regions like Chuka, and the stability of the Kenyan Shilling influence the final cost of petrol price in Kenya per litre.
The EPRA Mechanism: Stability Through Regulation
The EPRA system, mandated by law, is designed to ensure fair pricing and prevent market abuse. The maximum allowed price, including the petrol price in Kenya today per litre, is calculated using a transparent (though complex) formula that balances international costs with domestic levies and logistical expenses.
Current EPRA Fuel Prices (November 15 – December 14, 2025)
For the current cycle, EPRA held prices unchanged, demonstrating market stability despite global pressures. Here are the maximum prices (KSh/Litre) for key towns, highlighting the regional variation:
| Town | Super Petrol (KSh/L) | Diesel (KSh/L) | Kerosene (KSh/L) |
| Nairobi | 184.52 | 171.47 | 154.78 |
| Mombasa | 181.24 | 168.19 | 151.49 |
| Nakuru | 183.56 | 170.87 | 154.21 |
| Eldoret | 184.38 | 171.68 | 155.03 |
| Chuka | 186.98 | 173.93 | 157.23 |
Note: The petrol price in Kenya today is fixed at the above maximums until the next announcement on December 14, 2025, which will determine the fuel prices in Kenya tomorrow (effective December 15th).
Analyzing the Formula: The Landed Cost and Forex Risk
The single most volatile element of the Kenyan price is the Landed Cost—the price of the imported, refined product paid in U.S. Dollars, which is then converted into KES.
Global Commodity Prices: The Landed Cost is directly tied to global refined fuel benchmarks (linked to RBOB gasoline prices). A sustained gasoline prices rise in the international market, driven by OPEC+ cuts or refinery outages, will immediately push the Landed Cost higher in the subsequent EPRA review.
The Exchange Rate (KES/USD): Because fuel is purchased in USD, any depreciation of the Kenyan Shilling dramatically increases the cost of imports. This is why even when global crude prices remain flat, a weakening KES can force a gasoline and diesel prices increase on the local consumer. Analysis shows an inverse correlation between the KES/USD exchange rate and fuel prices, making it the most critical indicator for predicting the next EPRA price movement.
Taxes, Levies, and the Burden on the Consumer
Kenya's fuel price includes a substantial component of fixed government taxes and levies. This is the 'floor' of the price, which prevents any significant gasoline prices down movement even during global crude price crashes.
VAT and Excise Duties: These taxes, including the 16% VAT and various fixed duties (like the Road Maintenance Levy and Petroleum Development Levy), often account for over 40% of the final pump price.
The Subsidy Challenge: The government can use the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) to subsidize the price, preventing a sharp gasoline diesel and kerosene prices rise in the philippines or Kenya. However, sustaining these subsidies is fiscally draining, making them temporary measures to cushion the consumer against extreme volatility.
The Logistics Premium: Why Prices Vary from Mombasa to Chuka
The price differences across the country, as clearly seen between Mombasa and Chuka, are due to distribution costs.
Mombasa (Port): As the entry point for imported fuel, Mombasa registers the lowest maximum prices.
Inland Towns (e.g., Chuka): EPRA mandates that the maximum price must include the cost of transportation from the depot (Mombasa, Nairobi, Eldoret, etc.) to the local petrol station. Locations like Chuka that are far from the main pipeline and bulk storage depots incur higher Secondary Storage and Distribution Costs. This logistical premium explains why the petrol price in Nairobi Kenya is lower than the petrol price in Chuka.
Preparing for the Next Review
For Kenyan consumers, the most effective way to manage fuel costs is not by comparing prices at Shell fuel prices in Kenya today versus another brand, but by anticipating the next EPRA review. Since prices are fixed, the gasoline price next week will be the same as the price today. The only way the price will change is if the EPRA announces new maximums on December 14th, 2025. This regulated stability allows businesses and households to budget effectively, but it also means they are immediately exposed to any sustained weakness in the KES or a significant rise in global RBOB gasoline prices.
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