Kenya’s inflation rises to 3.8pc in June 2025

• Kenya’s inflation rises to 3.8 pc in June 2025;

Kenya’s inflation rate climbed to 3.8 percent in June 2025, a rise from June 2024, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

This increase, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics,(KNBS)was mainly driven by higher prices in Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (6.6 percent), Transport (3.2 percent), and Housing,Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (0.2 percent) over the past year.

These three categories make up over 57 percent of total household spending.

The CPI tracks the change in retail prices of a set “basket” of goods and services, comparing current prices to a base period of February 2019.

Inflation is the percentage change of the CPI between two periods, with various rates calculated annually, quarterly, or monthly.

Data for these rates comes from a monthly survey of retail prices across 50 urban zones countrywide, conducted in the second and third weeks of each month.

Over the twelve months leading to June 2025, the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages division saw a 6.6 percent increase.

In June 2025, this category rose by 1.0 percent due to price hikes in carrots (11.1 percent), cabbages (10.8 percent), sugar (5.5 percent), loose maize grain (2.8 percent), spinach (2.3 percent), sifted maize flour (2.1 percent), tomatoes (1.2 percent), kale (1.0 percent), and beef with bones (0.7 percent).

On the other hand, prices for cooking salad (0.4 percent), fresh unpacketed cow milk (0.4 percent), and Irish potatoes (0.2 percent) decreased.

The transport sector in June 2025 showed varied price movements.

Petrol saw the largest increase at 1.6 percent, followed by personal vehicles at 1.2 percent and country bus fares at 1.0 percent.

City bus and regular Matatu fares rose slightly by 0.2 percent.Diesel prices, however, dropped by 1.1 percent.

In the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels category, electricity costs fell by 1.6 percent for a 50 kWh unit and 1.5 percent for a 200 kWh unit.

Kerosene and LPG prices also declined by 1.2 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. In contrast, firewood increased by 2.0 percent and charcoal by 1.0 percent.

Tiles rose by 0.7 percent, while cement dropped by 0.2 percent.Monthly house rent for a single room saw a marginal 0.2 percent increase.

The Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco, and Narcotics category recorded slight increases in June 2025, with spirits up 0.5 percent, wines up 0.4 percent, and miraa (khat) up 0.2 percent.Beer prices remained stable.

Clothing and Footwear experienced price increases, with infant’s clothing rising by 0.5 percent, women’s trousers, dresses, and girls’ school uniforms by 0.3 percent each, and men’s trousers by 0.1 percent.

Furnishings, Household Equipment, and Routine Household Maintenance saw a monthly inflation of 0.1 percent.

Buckets and basins rose by 0.9 percent, refrigerators/freezers by 0.8 percent, shoe polish/cream by 0.6 percent, and laundry soap/bar soap and electric bulbs/fluorescent tubes by 0.5 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively.

The Health sector had a monthly inflation of 0.3 percent.

Dewormers increased by 2.1 percent, eye care medicine by 0.7 percent, medicine for cancer by 0.6 percent, delivery charges by 0.5 percent, and both antibiotics and general practitioner’s services by 0.4 percent.

Prices in Information and Communication, and Insurance and Financial Services remained unchanged between May and June 2025.

Recreation, Sport and Culture recorded a monthly inflation of 0.2 percent.

School textbooks for pre-primary and primary levels rose by 0.9 percent, while tour/honeymoon packages and exercise books declined by 0.1 percent.

Education services showed a negligible change, with a slight 0.1 percent increase in certificate course fees in June 2025.

Restaurants and Accommodation Services experienced an inflation of 0.1 percent. Post-secondary school boarding fees rose significantly by 1.6 percent.

Hotel and restaurant cakes and snacks increased by 0.7 percent, prepared foods from hotels, cafes, and take-aways by 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent respectively, and food from canteens and kiosks by 0.1 percent.

Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services recorded a monthly inflation of 0.1 percent.