Kenya’s headline inflation rose to 6.8% y/y in Sep 2026.

Lower is better. Lower is better because slower price rises leave wages and savings buying more, and make it easier for families and firms to plan. The latest figure is 6.8% y/y for Sep 2026, up from 4.6% y/y in Sep 2025, a rise of 2.2 percentage points over the year. Since Oct 2024 the lowest reading was 2.7% y/y, in Oct 2024. The highest is the current 6.8% y/y, so inflation sits at the top of its range for this period.

Why it matters. At 6.8% y/y, a shilling spent in Kenya buys noticeably less than it did a year earlier, which squeezes household budgets, especially for people who spend most of their income on essentials. Businesses face higher costs for inputs and have to decide how much to pass on to customers. Faster price rises also give the Central Bank of Kenya less room to lower borrowing costs, which affects loan repayments for households, firms and the government.