Kenyan Inflation Eases to 4.4 percent in January 2026 Amid Mixed Commodity Price Shifts
February 1, 2026
Kenya’s annual consumer price inflation slowed slightly to 4.4 per cent in January 2026, down from 4.5 per cent in December 2025 . This cooling trend is partly attributed to "base effects," reflecting the higher price levels seen during the same month in the previous year . Despite this slight year-on-year dip, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 148.96 in January 2026.
At a Glance: The three major drivers—Food, Transport, and Housing—account for over 57% of the total consumer spending weight .
Key Drivers of the Cost of Living
1. The Food Basket
Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages rose by 7.3 per cent over the last 12 months . Recent monthly shifts include:
> Cabbages: Increased by 9.3% .
> Fortified Maize Flour: Increased by 6.7% .
> Sugar: Decreased by 3.0% .
2. Energy and Utilities
The "Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels" division saw a yearly increase of 2.2% . Notably, electricity costs for 50 kWh rose by 3.7% this month , while kerosene prices eased slightly by 0.6% .
3. Transport and Fuel
While the division rose 4.8% annually , January saw a marginal decrease in pump prices: petrol fell by 1.1% and diesel by 0.6%.
Education and Core Inflation
With the start of the school year, Education Services saw a yearly increase of 2.7% . Monthly, pre-primary tuition fees jumped by 3.3% [cite: 542]. Meanwhile, Core Inflation—a measure of non-volatile commodities—rose to 2.2% .
| Category | Monthly Change (%) | Annual Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Inflation | 0.6% | 4.4% |
| Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages | 1.1% | 7.3% |
| Transport | -0.7% | 4.8% |
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Report, January 2026.
Posted by: Yuthufu