Fuel prices rise from 15 October: petrol up Sh12.93

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority has raised the maximum pump prices for the month from 15 October to 14 November. In Nairobi a litre of super petrol now costs up to Sh226.96, Sh12.93 more than last month. Diesel costs up to Sh227.76, up Sh9.90, and kerosene up to Sh219.85, up Sh28.49.

In Mombasa, closer to the port, petrol is capped at Sh223.81, diesel at Sh224.61 and kerosene at Sh216.71. Prices in other towns are higher or lower depending on the cost of getting fuel there.

Why prices went up

EPRA put the rise down to the cost of bringing fuel into Mombasa, which went up between 9% and 12% for the three fuels in September. Its Director General, Edward Kinyua, said September was the worst month for import costs since the war in the Middle East began. The shilling hardly moved against the dollar, so the rise came from the price of the fuel itself.

Kerosene went up the most because EPRA wants to keep its price close to diesel's. When kerosene is much cheaper, some is mixed into diesel, so the two are now only about Sh8 apart in Nairobi.

The new prices still include VAT at 8%. That reduced rate, cut from 16% in April, had been due to end on 14 October.