Electricity bills in Kenya: why your tokens buy fewer units, and what happened to the tariff hike
Kenya Power's plan to raise base tariffs for 2026–2029 was withdrawn in June, yet bills can still change every month. Here is how your power bill is built, why it moves, and how to check what you pay.
If KSh1,000 of tokens seems to buy fewer units than before, you are not imagining it. Your electricity price has two parts: a base tariff that changes only after a formal review, and monthly charges that move with fuel costs, the exchange rate and levies.
What happened to the big tariff review
- 31 March 2026: Kenya Power applied to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) for new retail tariffs for 2026/27 to 2028/29, on behalf of itself, KenGen, KETRACO, GDC and REREC.
- May–June 2026: EPRA scheduled public forums in Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Nyeri, Nairobi, Garissa and Mombasa. The review followed public anger over May bills, which rose by over KSh1 per unit because of little-known levies.
- Early June 2026: the application was withdrawn. Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said the current retail tariffs "shall remain in force and unchanged" unless lawfully reviewed under the Energy Act.
Why your bill still changes
Even with the base tariff frozen, these parts of your bill are adjusted regularly:
| Charge | What it is | Why it moves |
|---|---|---|
| Energy charge | The base price per unit (kWh) | Only after a formal tariff review |
| Fuel energy cost | The cost of diesel used by thermal power plants | Rises when fuel prices rise or when dry weather means more thermal power |
| Foreign exchange charge | Covers power bought in US dollars | Moves with the shilling |
| Inflation adjustment | Keeps tariffs in line with prices | Moves with inflation |
| Levies and VAT | Government and regulatory charges | Change when new levies are added |
Fuel connection: when diesel prices rise, as they did in October, the fuel energy cost on electricity bills can also rise. Good rains do the opposite: more hydropower means less diesel burned. See why fuel prices rose and El Niño and the rains.
How to check what you pay
- Your token SMS lists units bought and deductions. Compare the units for the same amount month to month.
- EPRA publishes the monthly pass-through charges in the Kenya Gazette and on its website.
- Any future base-tariff increase must go through EPRA with public participation, so watch for public notices and forums.
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