Kenya Annual Inflation Rate Rises to 6.8 Percent

Kenya's annual inflation rate rose to 6.8 percent in September, an increase from 6.6 percent recorded in August. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicates that the rise was primarily driven by higher costs for food and non-alcoholic beverages, transport, and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels.

Transport costs saw the most significant annual surge, increasing by 15.6 percent, while food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose by 9.5 percent compared to September of the previous year. Housing and utility costs increased by 3.2 percent. The agency noted that these three divisions together account for over 57 per cent of the total weight across the 13 major expenditure categories.

On a month-on-month basis, food and non-alcoholic beverage prices grew by 0.9 percent. Additionally, prices for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics saw a 0.4 percent increase.