The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Kenya experienced a notable rise in passenger transport costs in August 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
The report reveals a sharp 15.4% increase in fares for long-distance travel, with bus and matatu fares on the Mombasa–Nairobi route climbing from Sh1,300 in July to Sh1,500 in August. Urban transport also saw minor increases, with tuk-tuk fares rising by 1.5%.
Despite higher transport costs, fuel prices remained largely stable. Petrol prices dipped slightly by 0.5%, from Sh187.37 to Sh186.37 per litre, while diesel prices stayed unchanged throughout the month.
Beyond transport, the report shows varied price trends across key sectors. In the food and non-alcoholic beverages category, some basic items became cheaper, including unpacked cow milk, fortified maize flour (down 1.7%), sifted maize flour (down 1.5%), beans, loose maize grain, and oranges.
However, vegetable prices climbed, led by cabbages with a 6.3% increase. Carrots, sukuma wiki (collard greens), and tomatoes also rose by 2.4%, 1.9%, and 1.2%, respectively. Other food items such as white wheat flour, onions, leeks, and potatoes recorded smaller price hikes ranging from 0.7% to 0.9%.
On the upside, electricity costs declined across consumption brackets between July and August, slightly easing household energy bills.
Overall, the KNBS report paints a mixed inflation outlook for August — with rising transport and vegetable prices increasing the cost of living, while fuel, electricity, and some food items offered limited financial relief.
