Global crude oil prices surged in the week ending Thursday, September 10, 2026, a development that could weigh heavily on Kenyan motorists and consumers ahead of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority’s (EPRA) monthly fuel pricing decision. Global fuel prices have risen over the last two weeks. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) attributed the spike to heightened concerns over oil supply risks stemming from renewed disruptions in the Middle East. What are the new global fuel prices? The CBK flagged the price movement in its weekly bulletin published on Friday, September 11, noting that Murban crude oil climbed to USD 95.41 (KSh 12,354.64) per barrel on September 10, up from USD 86.01 (KSh 11,137.43) per barrel recorded just a week earlier on September 3. This represented a rise of KSh 1,217.21 per barrel. “Murban crude oil prices rose to USD 95.41 per barrel on September 10, from USD 86.01 per barrel on September 3,” the CBK stated. The most recent increase followed a comparable gain the week before. The price of a barrel of Murban crude increased from KSh 10,594.14 (USD 81.78) on August 27 to KSh 11,142.11 (USD 86.01) on September 3. This was a KSh 547.97, or 5.2%, increase over the previous week. The successive weekly increases indicate that global crude oil prices are still under pressure to rise, primarily due to supply systems in oil-producing regions being disrupted by geopolitical tensions.
What does the price surge mean for Kenyans? The timing of the increase is particularly consequential for Kenyans. EPRA conducts its monthly fuel price review on the 14th of every month, with revised maximum pump prices coming into force from midnight on the 15th. Each pricing cycle remains in effect for 30 days until the following month’s review. With the September 14 review now imminent, the sharp increase in international crude prices recorded over the past two weeks forms part of the global market data that feeds into EPRA’s pricing formula. Pump prices in Kenya for petrol, diesel, and kerosene are calculated based on a combination of landed import costs, taxes, levies, and regulatory margins, all of which are sensitive to movements in global crude benchmarks. Consumers will be watching closely when EPRA publishes its September pricing schedule, as any upward revision would directly affect transport costs, household energy expenses, and the broader cost of living across the country.
