Kenya’s Monetary Policy Committee brought its record easing cycle to a halt on April 8, 2026, holding the Central Bank Rate at 8.75 percent as rising oil prices and the deepening Middle East conflict reshaped the outlook for inflation and growth.
The decision ended a run of ten consecutive rate cuts stretching back to June 2024, which had collectively reduced the benchmark rate by 425 basis points from a cycle high of 13.0 percent. CBK Governor Dr. Kamau Thugge chaired the meeting and announced the committee’s conclusion: the current stance remains appropriate, but the risks ahead demand close watching.
