The cost of living in Kenya has maintained a steady upward trajectory over the past year, reflecting a tightening economic environment for households across the country.
According to official data from the Kenya Consumer Price Index and Inflation Report released on June 30, 2026, the Overall Consumer Price Index (CPI)—which tracks the shifting prices of everyday items and measures changes against a February 2019 baseline—has climbed progressively from mid-2025 through mid-2026.
A historical review of the metrics reveals that the CPI stood at 145.58 in June 2025, followed by a marginal rise to 145.74 in July.
A temporary dip to 146.21 occurred in August, after which prices picked up momentum, reaching 146.56 in September, 146.84 in October, and 147.08 in November.
By the close of the year in December 2025, the index had climbed to 148.02.
The inflationary momentum carried into the new year, with the CPI hitting 148.96 in January 2026, 149.20 in February, and reaching the 150.00 milestone in March.
The sharpest quarterly acceleration was recorded in the second quarter of 2026, when the index jumped to 152.15 in April and surged further to 154.56 in May.
By June 2026, the CPI reached a peak of 154.91, underscoring a persistent rise in the cost of goods and services over the 12-month cycle.
