Mandera Motorists Pay Highest Fuel Prices in Kenya, Ksh23.90 More Than Kaloleni

Mandera, Eldas, Elwak, and Wajir are among the most expensive places in Kenya to buy petrol and diesel. The latest pump price schedule from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) shows the gap clearly. The maximum prices apply from November 15 to December 14, 2026.

Mandera tops the list. Super Petrol sells for up to Ksh247.62 per litre there. Diesel costs up to Ksh248.41, and kerosene up to Ksh240.52.

Eldas follows with petrol at Ksh244.39 and diesel at Ksh245.18. Elwak records petrol at Ksh243.87 and diesel at Ksh244.66. Moyale and Wajir also sit high on the list. In Moyale, petrol is Ksh241.81 and diesel Ksh242.60. In Wajir, the figures are Ksh241.54 for petrol and Ksh242.33 for diesel.

Coastal towns pay far less. In Kaloleni, petrol costs Ksh223.72 per litre, while diesel stands at Ksh224.52. That leaves a gap of Ksh23.90 in petrol prices between Mandera and Kaloleni.

Other remote markets also face steep prices. Tarbaj charges Ksh241.29 for petrol. Sololo's petrol price is Ksh240.29. Marsabit sits at Ksh239.27, while North Horr is at Ksh240.81. Maikona, Kalacha, and Loyangalani are also named among the costly towns.

The problem is not limited to the north. Garissa records petrol at Ksh233.33 and diesel at Ksh234.13. By comparison, Nairobi's maximum prices are Ksh226.96 for petrol and Ksh227.76 for diesel. Mombasa is cheaper still, at Ksh223.81 and Ksh224.61. Nakuru also sits below Nairobi, at Ksh225.73 for petrol and Ksh226.93 for diesel.

The gap hits household budgets hard. Many northern families rely on road transport to reach markets, schools, and clinics. Costlier diesel pushes up the running costs of trucks that carry food and building materials. Transporters may pass those costs to traders, who may pass them on to shoppers.

Public transport is also affected. Matatus and other operators depend on petrol and diesel. Higher operating costs can end up in passenger fares.

Kerosene matters too, since many families use it for cooking and lighting. In Mandera, kerosene costs Ksh240.52 a litre. In Kaloleni, it costs Ksh216.63. A household buying five litres would pay Ksh119.45 more in Mandera.

EPRA's schedule does not explain why prices differ so much between regions. It does, however, show that fuel is considerably more expensive in several remote towns. The maximum prices stay in force until December 14, 2026.