The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority has kept fuel prices unchanged for the December-to-January pricing cycle, marking the fourth consecutive monthly cycle of flat pump prices despite divergent movements in global landed costs, according to its latest review.
In a statement dated 14 December 2025, EPRA said the maximum retail prices for Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene will remain in force from 15 December 2025 to 14 January 2026. This extends a price hold that began in September 2025, covering four consecutive monthly pricing cycles.
Under the decision, pump prices stand at KSh 183.58 per litre for Super Petrol, KSh 171.57 for Diesel and KSh 154.23 for Kerosene. The prices include 16% value added tax in line with the Finance Act 2023, the Tax Laws Amendment Act 2024 and inflation-adjusted excise duty rates set under Legal Notice No. 194 of 2020.
EPRA said the review was conducted under Section 101(y) of the Petroleum Act 2019 and Legal Notice No. 192 of 2022, which require the regulator to publish maximum retail prices every month based on average landed costs, exchange rates, taxes and regulated margins.
Data published by the regulator shows mixed movements in import costs during the review period. The average landed cost of Super Petrol fell by 4.25% to US$592.84 per cubic metre in November 2025 from US$619.14 per cubic metre in October. In contrast, the landed cost of Diesel rose by 3.02% to US$654.24 per cubic metre, while Kerosene increased by 5.52% to US$667.05 per cubic metre over the same period.
Despite the rise in diesel and kerosene import costs, EPRA said pump prices remained unchanged, indicating limited pass-through of month-to-month cost movements under the pricing formula. The regulator did not cite any fuel subsidy support, pointing to pricing outcomes driven by the statutory framework rather than fiscal intervention.
Extended price holds are rare outside periods of direct government support. The current four-cycle freeze for diesel and kerosene is the longest since April to August 2021, when prices were held flat for five months under a subsidy regime. Petrol prices have also remained unchanged for four cycles, the longest stretch since November 2022 to February 2023.
EPRA said the purpose of the petroleum pricing regulations is to cap retail prices of products already in the country while allowing recovery of importation and other prudently incurred costs, and to ensure reasonable prices for consumers. The authority added that it remains committed to fair competition and the protection of both consumers and investors in the energy and petroleum sectors.
