By the 254.ke Newsroom
Kenyan electricity customers will pay about Sh4.10 extra per unit in October 2026 in pass-through charges, slightly less than September’s Sh4.16, even though the fuel component rose. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) set the charges in a notice dated October 9, 2026. A household using 100 units faces roughly Sh410 in additional charges before the base tariff and taxes.
What are the October 2026 electricity charges?
EPRA’s notice sets three pass-through charges that sit on top of the base tariff, according to Capital FM and The Kenya Times.
- Fuel energy cost charge: Sh3.22 per kWh, applied to October 2026 meter readings (Sh3.00 in September).
- Foreign exchange fluctuation adjustment: 87 cents per kWh, based on September 2026 data (Sh1.1443 in September).
- Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) levy: 1.34 cents per kWh (1.48 cents in September).
Added together, the three come to about Sh4.1034 per kWh, against Sh4.1591 last month, a drop of roughly 5.6 cents. The fuel charge went up 22 cents, but a smaller foreign exchange adjustment more than offset it.
How much more will you pay on your bill?
The table shows only the pass-through charges. Base tariffs, VAT and other levies come on top. Figures are 254.ke calculations from the Sh4.1034 combined rate.
| Units used | Extra charges, Oct 2026 | Extra charges, Sept 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | about Sh205 | about Sh208 |
| 100 | about Sh410 | about Sh416 |
| 200 | about Sh821 | about Sh832 |
| 500 | about Sh2,052 | about Sh2,080 |
| 1,000 | about Sh4,103 | about Sh4,159 |
For prepaid customers the effect shows up in fewer units per token. Postpaid customers will see it on the next bill. The base domestic rates gazetted in September were Sh12.23 a unit for the lifeline band, Sh16.45 for the middle band and Sh19.08 for the top band, as covered in our September electricity charges explainer.
Why did the forex charge fall while the fuel charge rose?
The fuel energy cost charge is recalculated monthly from the previous month’s generation costs. The Kenya Times reports that total electricity generated and purchased in September 2026, excluding exports, was 1,358,089,407 kWh, of which 304,821,274 kWh came from hydropower plants of 1 MW or more.
The foreign exchange charge recovers currency losses incurred by power producers and buyers. The Kenya Times reports a net exchange loss of Sh987.6 million for September. KenGen recorded a gain of Sh92.74 million, Kenya Power a loss of Sh254.83 million and independent power producers a loss of Sh825.47 million. In June, by comparison, People Daily reported a forex charge of Sh0.7154 and a fuel charge of Sh3.14, so the October fuel charge is the highest of the months cited here.
The Kenya Times article gives the fuel charge in one place as “3.22 Kenya cents” and elsewhere as Sh3.22 per unit. Capital FM reports Sh3.22, and the combined Sh4.10 figure only works with shillings, so this article uses Sh3.22.
What does it mean for households and businesses?
Because the charges are flat per unit, heavy users feel them most in shillings. Small businesses such as salons, cyber cafés and welding workshops, which People Daily noted face higher operating costs when these charges climb, see the same unit rate as households. Energy costs also feed into prices more broadly; see our August inflation breakdown and the latest on pump prices this month. The Central Bank’s next move is covered in the October MPC preview.
Frequently asked questions
Did electricity prices go up in October 2026?
The base tariff did not change in EPRA’s notice. The combined pass-through charges are about Sh4.10 per unit, slightly below September’s Sh4.16.
Who sets the monthly fuel and forex charges?
EPRA publishes them in a monthly gazette notice. Details are on the regulator’s website, epra.go.ke.
Do these charges apply to prepaid meters?
Yes. They apply to all customers, and prepaid users get fewer units for the same amount of money.
When will the next charges be announced?
EPRA reviews them monthly, so the November rates should follow in a notice around the same time next month.
Sources: Capital FM (October 11, 2026), The Kenya Times (October 10, 2026), People Daily (June 21, 2026), and 254.ke’s September 2026 coverage.
