EPRA Reviews Diesel Prices Downwards After Public Uproar

Kenya, 19 May 2026 - The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has revised fuel prices following mounting public pressure and nationwide protests by matatu operators.

In its latest review, the regulator said that the price of diesel has been reduced by KSh 10.06, but the price of kerosene has increased by KSh38.60 per litre. The price for super petrol will remain unchanged.

Until June 14, motorists in Nairobi will pay KSh214.25 for Super Petrol, KSh222.86 for diesel, and KSh191.38 for kerosene.

 In Mombasa, Super Petrol will retail at Ksh211.09, diesel at Ksh229.58, while kerosene will cost Ksh188.09.

Motorists in Nakuru will pay Ksh213.15 for Super Petrol, Ksh232.27 for diesel, and Ksh190.81 for kerosene. In Eldoret, Super Petrol will retail at Ksh213.92, diesel at Ksh233.09, while kerosene will cost Ksh191.63.

“The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has recalculated the maximum retail pump prices that will be in force from 19th May 2026 to 14th June 2026 following a petition by public transport sector operators on the need to minimize the risk of motor fuel adulteration that may arise due to the big price differential between Diesel and Kerosene,” EPRA stated.

On Monday, thousands of Kenyans, especially in Nairobi, were unable to use major transport corridors to commute to work and businesses after they were blocked by irate protesters with stones and burning tyres, who protested the fuel price hike.

Speaking during an interview with NTV on Monday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary  John Mbadi said that the executive will hold a meeting once President William Ruto returns from Azerbaijan to monitor and deliberate on how best to handle the situation in the country.

The government aims to stabilise fuel prices in the next monthly review through a subsidy funded by Ksh5 billion from the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) Fund, according to Mbadi.

"We will look at the subsidy kitty that we have, and if that is not going to be sufficient, we will see what to do. We will then look at the fuel levy, especially the VAT. And we will check on what to cut in terms of expenditure," Mbadi said.

 The fresh EPRA review came after matatu owners held a six-hour consultative meeting with the Energy  Transport Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and his Transport counterpart Davis Chirchir to deliberate on how to resolve the protests.

Wandayi said that the government would bridge the gap between the prices of diesel and petrol by raising the pricing of kerosene.

However, the meeting did not bear fruit, with matatu owners maintaining that the KSh10 price reduction was still insufficient to sustain operations. They insisted that the protests would continue until the government lowers fuel prices by Ksh46, a proposal they claimed the government rejected ‘because it has no money.'

"On the issue of the diesel prices, that is one we have not agreed on, and we have scheduled another meeting. In the meantime, we request that all our drivers and owners of vehicles continue keeping their vehicles at home,” Kushian Muchiri, Chair, Association of Matatu Transport Owners, said.