A recent report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reveals that while the price of cooking gas (LPG) decreased in July 2026, electricity bills and rent rose, maintaining pressure on Kenyan household budgets.
Utility Cost Changes in July 2026
- The cost to refill a 13-kilogram LPG cylinder dropped from Ksh3,470.82 in June to Ksh3,432.21 in July, a 1.1% reduction.
- Electricity bills increased notably: households consuming 200 kWh saw their average bill rise by 3.1% from Ksh5,476.34 to Ksh5,648.30.
- For 50 kWh consumers, bills went up 3.5%, from Ksh1,243.85 to Ksh1,286.84.
- Average rent for a single room increased slightly from Ksh4,218.03 to Ksh4,225.93.
These changes contributed to a 0.5% monthly increase and 3.2% annual inflation in the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels category, underscoring rising housing-related expenses.
Broader Inflation Context
KNBS highlighted that food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 9.0% annually, transport by 15.6%, and housing-related costs by 3.2%. Together, these sectors represent over 57% of major household expenditure categories.
Fuel prices remained stable during the period, with diesel at Ksh224.04 per litre and petrol at Ksh214.95 per litre, having no effect on utility cost changes.
National inflation stood at 6.5% year-on-year in July 2026, with monthly inflation at 0.2%. Despite cheaper LPG, the rise in electricity prices and rent means many Kenyan families saw little relief in their overall utility bills.
