Fuel and fertilizer costs climb in Africa as Middle East shipping is disrupted

Rise in Kenya's maximum pump price of petrol

6 %

Kenya raised pump prices on Oct 15, by about 6 per cent for petrol and 4.5 per cent for diesel, and minibus operators announced fare increases at once.

What Kenyan motorists demand

• A breakdown of how pump prices are set
• An independent audit of the fuel import deal
• A clear reason for the kerosene increase

The Motorists Association of Kenya questioned the regulator's figures and warned it could call peaceful demonstrations if its demands are not met.

A senior UN official warned on Oct 14 that a failed US–Iran deal could bring a food crisis to parts of Africa and Asia, as urea and sulphur for fertilizer are held up in the Strait of Hormuz.

Shipping costs feed the rise: freight now accounts for more than 40 per cent of the price of US oil, against 7 per cent on average in 2025, according to LSEG data.