How a Simple Trip to Work Became KSh40 More Expensive in One Year

A year ago, leaving home for work in Nairobi required little thought about transport fare.

• In July 2025, a commuter boarding a matatu at Khoja Mosque stage for Westlands needed KSh60 for the trip.
• Twelve months later, that same journey costs KSh100, up from KSh80 in June, making the 67% hike over just 12 months illustrative of some of the sharpest increases felt by many Kenyans this year. 
• The steep rise in commuting costs mirrors a broader trend captured in the latest Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Consumer Price Index report, which shows annual inflation edged up to 6.5 percent in July 2026. 

Transport recorded the highest inflation among the major spending categories at 15.6 percent, largely driven by higher fuel prices. 

Nationally, diesel prices climbed from KSh172.75 to KSh224.04 per litre, representing a 29.7 percent increase, while petrol rose 14.7 percent to KSh214.95 per litre. 

Although pump prices remained unchanged between June and July, commuters still paid more as transport operators adjusted fares amid sustained high operating costs. 

For many households, the numbers translate into difficult choices made every day—from how to get to work to what ends up on the dinner table.

The market basket tells a mixed story

After work comes another unavoidable expense, the evening shopping trip.