NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 14 – Kenyan motorists will have to contend with yet higher prices at the pump, as the cost of a litre of petrol shot up by Sh2.75 for the next one month from October 15.
The Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) monthly review capped a litre of super petrol at Sh120.50, while diesel peaks by Sh2.77 per litre to Sh110.94 in Nairobi.
Kerosene will go up by Sh1.66 a litre to Sh89.95, with regular petrol retailing at Sh116.73.
“There has been an erratic trend in the price of crude and imported refined petroleum products in the international market, coupled with volatile performance of key economies in the world,” ERC Director General Eng Kaburu Mwirichia said in a statement on Friday.
Mwirichia added that the Shilling’s depreciation to the Dollar has also adversely affected local pump prices.
This is the tenth month in a row that the energy regulator has reviewed pump prices upwards in a trend that has affected the cost of basic food commodities and driven the inflation rate into double digits.
With the Kenyan economy heavily dependent on diesel for transportation, power generation and agriculture and kerosene primarily used in numerous households, the price hikes continue to burden many citizens.
Weakening by 20 percent this year, the Kenyan Shilling is considered one of the worst performing currencies in the world.
Prices are set to change effective midnight, with Mombasa residents to pay Sh117.22 a litre for Super petrol, and Kisumu motorists paying Sh122.22.
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