By Andrew Kariuki

Kenyan households will now face a new cost-of-living burden as the country’s ongoing fuel crisis has spilled over into electricity bills, with new charges expected to significantly increase the cost of power tokens across the country.

New adjustments gazetted by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) are set to add approximately Ksh4.72 per kilowatt-hour on electricity consumed in April, pushing up monthly bills for both households and businesses.

The additional charges arise from a combination of a Fuel Energy Cost Charge of Ksh3.47 per kWh, a Foreign Exchange Fluctuation Adjustment of Ksh1.2341 per kWh and a Water Resource Management Authority Levy of Ksh0.0154 per kWh.

For many consumers, the increase represents an estimated 20 to 30% jump above normal electricity rates depending on household consumption levels.

Under the new pricing structure, a household consuming 50 units is expected to pay about Ksh236 extra, while an average family using 150 units could spend an additional Ksh708 on tokens. Homes consuming around 300 units may now pay more than Ksh1,400 extra.

Small businesses are also expected to feel the pressure, with enterprises consuming around 1,000 units projected to absorb nearly Ksh4,720 in extra electricity costs.

The new charges only apply to electricity consumed and do not affect the fixed monthly charges on Kenya Power bills.

According to EPRA data, the Fuel Energy Cost Charge reflects the rising cost of diesel and heavy fuel oil used in thermal power generation during March 2026.

Remote and off-grid regions continue to rely heavily on diesel-powered electricity generation, with fuel costs in some stations reportedly ranging between Ksh193 and Ksh295 per kilogram.

In areas such as Kiunga and Faza Island, fuel costs have risen sharply, highlighting Kenya’s continued vulnerability to global fuel price shocks despite increased investment in geothermal power.

The Foreign Exchange Fluctuation Adjustment, meanwhile, reflects more than KSh1.3 billion in currency-related losses incurred by power producers and distributors due to dollar-denominated agreements.

The electricity price adjustments come just weeks after EPRA announced sharp increases in pump prices, triggering nationwide protests and a transport sector strike over the rising cost of fuel.

Energy analysts now warn that the full impact of the Middle East supply disruptions may not yet have been fully reflected in both fuel and electricity pricing, raising fears that consumers could face even higher costs in the coming months.