The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has reported a slight relief for Kenyan households as maize flour and sugar prices dropped in September 2025, even as overall inflation rose to 4.6 per cent.

“Annual consumer price inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 4.6 per cent in September 2025.

According to a report by KNBS on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, this implies that the general price level was 4.6 per cent higher in September 2025 than it was in September 2024,” KNBS stated.

Food and transport costs

The report noted that the price increase was primarily driven by a rise in prices of items in the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (8.4%); Transport (4.0%), and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other fuels (1.4%) over the one year. These three divisions together account for over 57 per cent of the total weight across the 13 major expenditure categories.

Despite the overall inflation, some household staples recorded price declines. “Between August 2025 and September 2025, the price of sifted maize flour (2 Kgs) decreased from KSh 156.99 to KSh 152.28. Similarly, the price of sugar (1 Kg) reduced slightly from KSh 186.53 to KSh 185.21,” KNBS reported.

Loose maize grain (1 Kg) also dropped from KSh 70.93 to KSh 68.14, and kale-sukuma wiki (1 Kg) fell from KSh 93.41 to KSh 92.48.

Energy and inflation trends

However, some items saw price increases. “In contrast, the price of cabbages (1 Kg) rose from KSh 89.25 in August to KSh 91.67 in September 2025,” KNBS stated.

Energy prices showed mixed changes, with electricity (200 kWh) increasing from KSh 5,539.54 in August to KSh 5,597.16 in September, while fuel prices slightly declined.KNBS also highlighted core and non-core inflation. “Core inflation was 2.9 per cent in September 2025… Non-core inflation was 9.6 per cent during the same period.” KNBS explained.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages contributed 2.7 points to the overall inflation.

The slight drop in unga and sugar prices provides some relief for families, even as the broader inflation rate shows continued pressure on household budgets across Kenya.