Kenya inflation rises to 6.6 percent on food and transport costs

Kenya’s annual inflation rate rose to 6.6 percent in August, marking the second consecutive monthly increase. According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the rate has remained above five percent for five consecutive months.

Rising food and transport costs were the primary drivers of the increase. Food prices rose by 9.0 percent compared to the same month last year, while transport costs saw a sharper jump of 15.7 percent. Together, these two sectors contributed 4.1 percentage points to the overall inflation rate, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the annual rise in consumer prices.

The spike in costs is attributed to several factors, including lower-than-expected rainfall affecting food production and the impact of Middle East conflicts on fuel costs. While the inflation rate is slightly below the 6.7 percent peak seen in May, it remains one of the highest levels recorded since early 2024.