By Mercy Chete
The situation with the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) is currently a bit of a rollercoaster. On April 14, 2026, EPRA initially announced the largest price hike in years due to global supply shocks. However, just hours later on April 15, prices were slightly revised downward following an emergency tax cut by the National Treasury.
While the net result is still an increase compared to last month, the second announcement “reduced” the blow of the initial hike.
Here is a breakdown of the current Nairobi prices as of April 15, 2026:
| Fuel Type | Old Price (March) | Initial Hike (Apr 14) | Revised Price (Apr 15) |
| Super Petrol | KES 178.28 | KES 206.97 |
KES 197.60 |
| Diesel | KES 166.54 | KES 206.84 | KES 196.63 |
| Kerosene | KES 152.78 | KES 152.78 | KES 152.78 (Unchanged) |
Article Draft: The Price of Stability
Treasury Intervention Softens EPRA’s Record Hike
Nairobi, April 15, 2026 Kenyan motorists woke up to a confusing 24 hours at the pump. After the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced a staggering KES 40 increase for diesel on Tuesday evening, the National Treasury stepped in with an eleventh-hour tax reduction to prevent a total economic shock.
The “Sticker Shock”
The initial review was grim. Driven by a 68% surge in landed costs following Middle East supply disruptions, EPRA’s first announcement pushed both Petrol and Diesel past the KES 200 mark for the first time in history. The move was a delayed reaction to global instability that had been brewing throughout February and March.
The Government’s Rescue Act
To cushion the blow, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi Ng’ongo issued a special gazette notice on Wednesday, April 15, slashing the Value Added Tax (VAT)on petroleum products from 13% to 8%. This immediate policy shift forced EPRA to recalculate, resulting in a KES 9.37 drop for petrol and a KES 10.21 drop for diesel relative to the prices announced just the night before.
Why Kerosene Stayed Flat
While petrol and diesel saw wild swings, Kerosene remained unchanged at KES 152.78. This wasn’t because costs didn’t rise landed costs for kerosene actually doubled. Instead, the government applied a massive subsidy of KES 96.56 per litre to protect low income households who rely on the fuel for cooking and lighting.
Looking Ahead
Though the tax cut provided immediate relief, the underlying issue remains: global oil prices are at a multi-year high. The current VAT reduction is slated to be temporary, leaving many to wonder if the KES 200 ceiling will be shattered permanently once the tax holiday expires in July.
For now, the message to Kenyans is clear: the era of “cheap” fuel has ended, but the government is still willing to pull fiscal levers to keep the country moving.
