Kenya's overall inflation rate eases in April

Kenya's overall monthly inflation dropped in April to 5.27 percent from 6.45 percent in March despite increases in some food prices, the statistics bureau said on Friday.

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBC) said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) computed using the geometric mean approach increased by 0.69 percent from 165.92 in March to 167.07 in April.

"Between March and April, Food and Non-Alcoholic Drinks' Index increased by 1.48 percent. This resulted from notable increases in prices of some food items. However, in totality food inflation stood at 6.84 percent, which is the lowest, recorded in the recent past," the bureau said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

The latest inflation drop marks the fourth consecutive drop since last December when inflation stood at a high of 8.01 percent.

The bureau said Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels' Index, increased by 0.15 percent.

"This small aggregate increase was mainly as a result of price increases in respect of kerosene and other cooking fuels. The cost of electricity however, remained at the same level as in the previous three months of January to March," KNBS said.

The Transport Index decreased by 0.42 percent in April compared to the previous month, mainly due to reduced cost of petrol and diesel.

The country's energy industry regulator on April 14 slashed petrol prices but diesel and kerosene will increase slightly in the latest review of the petroleum pump prices.

The prices were obtained from selected retail outlets in 25 data collection zones located in Nairobi and 13 other urban centres.