ECONOMY

Fuel Prices in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as of May 2026

Kenya saw an especially steep diesel hike of nearly 23.5% in one cycle

JUSTUS KIPRONOMay 18, 20262 Mins read2

In Tanzania, the average cost of a litre of diesel is Ksh211.40, compared to Kenya's national average of Ksh242.92. (Photo: File)

Fuel costs in Kenya have climbed to record highs in May 2026, intensifying pressure on households and businesses already grappling with rising inflation and tight fiscal conditions, according to the latest data from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).

The average price of a liter of petrol in Kenya has risen sharply to Ksh214.25, up from 182.52 shillings earlier in the year.

Diesel prices have followed suit, reaching Ksh242.92 shillings per liter in Nairobi — a jump of 46.29 shillings — though drivers in coastal regions such as Mombasa, Kilifi, Likoni, and Kwale are paying closer to Ksh240 per liter.

Kerosene, widely used for cooking and lighting, has offered some relief, easing at 152.78 shillings after holding steady near Ksh155 for the previous month in expensive towns far from the port.

The increases come despite earlier hopes that the slight stabilisation of the Kenyan shilling against the dollar might ease the cost-of-living crisis. While some analysts suggest the worst of the inflationary wave may be easing, the latest pump prices tell a more painful story for ordinary citizens, where transport and energy costs ripple through food prices, business operations and daily commutes, with demonstrations on the same already witnessed in areas around the capital and major towns.

Is petrol cheaper in Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania?

Tanzania continues to offer the lowest fuel prices in the bloc. According to regulatory data, super petrol in Dar es Salaam sells for around 4,115 Tanzanian shillings (roughly Ksh205), with slightly higher rates in outlying areas such as Tanga and Mtwara. Converted to Kenyan shillings, even the highest Tanzanian petrol prices equate to approximately 214 shillings per litre, notably below levels seen in many Kenyan inland towns such as Ntimaru, where it retails at Ksh217/L.

In Tanzania, the average cost of a litre of diesel is Ksh211.40, compared to Kenya’s national average of Ksh242.92.

Uganda does not set or regulate maximum retail fuel prices; instead, it operates under an open-market system where individual petrol stations determine their own pump rates. Currently, super petrol retails at an average of UGX 6,000 to UGX 9,000 per litre (approx. Ksh300), while Diesel averages UGX 5,000 to UGX 5,500 per litre, which is about Ksh190. Uganda has the most expensive petrol and the cheapest diesel in the region.

Kenya’s higher taxation on petroleum products has kept pump prices elevated compared with its neighbours. Landlocked Uganda faces additional logistical hurdles, relying on imports via pipeline and road networks, which delays price adjustments and sustains costs despite efforts by the Uganda National Oil Company and Petroleum Authority of Uganda to develop domestic refining capacity.

What is the price of 1 litre of diesel in Uganda?

fuel prices in uganda — *A petrol station in Uganda now. (Photo: BT)*

As of mid-May 2026, the average price of one litre of diesel in Uganda is approximately Ush5,000 (around Ksh189.14).

This figure comes from the latest available data seen by Business Today Kenya. Prices can vary slightly by location, retailer, and daily market fluctuations, with some stations in Kampala and other areas reporting figures in the Ush5,000–5,300 range depending on supply conditions.

Kenya saw an especially steep diesel hike of nearly 23.5% in one cycle, partly because the government only partially cushioned the increase using the Petroleum Development Levy, and about Ksh5 billion was deployed.

For Kenyan consumers, the diesel spike hits particularly hard in the transport and agriculture sectors, potentially feeding through to higher food and goods prices.

EPRA attributed the price increases to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil transportation.

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Written by

JUSTUS KIPRONO -

Justus Kiprono is a freelance journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya. He tracks Capital Markets and economic trends, infrastructure reform, government spending, and the financial impacts of state decision-making nationwide. You can reach him: [email protected]