NAIROBI, Sept 30 – Kenya’s annual inflation accelerated to 6.8% in September, its highest level in more than two and a half years, as higher food and energy costs added to pressure on consumer prices.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reported that annual consumer price growth increased from 6.6% in August, exceeding the 6.5% rate projected by the Central Bank of Kenya’s Monetary Policy Committee.
The September reading marks a further acceleration in inflation and puts price growth above the level anticipated by policymakers. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.4% in September, matching the rate recorded in August, according to KNBS.
The acceleration in annual inflation was primarily driven by higher prices for energy and food, reinforcing pressure on household purchasing power and complicating the monetary policy outlook.
The latest data will be closely watched by the Central Bank of Kenya as policymakers assess the balance between inflationary pressures and economic activity.
