NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has recorded a rare increase in kerosene consumption for the first time in eight years, driven largely by electricity generation needs rather than household demand, according to new energy data.
Official figures show kerosene consumption rose by 18.86 P.c to 44,120 tonnes in 2025, reversing a steady decline that had persisted since 2018.
The rebound has been attributed primarily to renewed operations at the Muhoroni gas turbine power plant, a 60-megawatt facility critical in stabilising electricity supply in western Kenya.
The plant was reconnected to the national grid in November 2024 after being offline for over a year.
“The increase in kerosene consumption is as a result of the Muhoroni GT power, which is used to stabilise power supply in the western region,” said Daniel Kiptoo, Director General of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Data indicates that monthly consumption averaged 3.67 tonnes in 2025, up from about three tonnes the previous year, reflecting the plant’s contribution to fuel demand.
The latest figures mark a significant shift from previous years when kerosene use consistently declined, largely due to policy measures and changing consumer behaviour.
The introduction of an anti-adulteration levy of Sh18 per litre reduced incentives for fuel adulteration and contributed to falling demand.
At the same time, Kenya has witnessed a steady transition toward cleaner cooking fuels. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption rose by 14.7 P.c to 475,950 tonnes in 2025, signalling continued uptake of cleaner energy alternatives among households.
Regulators have downplayed concerns that the rise in kerosene use signals a return to reliance by low-income households, noting that the increase is largely industrial and power-related rather than domestic.
However, analysts warn that household consumption trends could shift in the near term following theexit of KOKO Networks from the Kenyan market earlier this year.
The firm had provided affordable clean cooking fuel to an estimated 1.5 million households before shutting down operations.
The government also recorded increased revenue from the anti-adulteration levy, collecting about Sh1 billion in 2025 compared to Sh847 million the previous year, reflecting the uptick in consumption.
Energy experts say the development highlights structural challenges in Kenya’s power distribution network, particularly in western regions that lack high-voltage transmission lines from major generation hubs such as Olkaria.
As a result, thermal power plants like Muhoroni remain essential for grid stability, even as the country pushes for cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
The latest data underscores a complex energy transition, where declining household reliance on kerosene coexists with strategic industrial demand, raising policy questions on balancing energy security, affordability, and environmental sustainability.
