Generator Prices in Kenya 2026 for Homes and Businesses

If you are shopping for a generator price in Kenya, the range is enormous: a small petrol unit can cost around KSh 22,000, while a used 100kVA diesel set is well over a million shillings. What you pay depends on whether you need a backup for a home or shop, or prime power for a workshop, farm or small factory. This guide uses Nairobi listings checked in October 2026 to show real price bands, explains how to size a generator in kVA, and compares petrol and diesel for Kenyan buyers.

Generator price in Kenya at a glance

On Jiji Kenya in early October 2026, which listed more than 8,000 results under generators, new petrol (gasoline) units were typically between KSh 22,000 and KSh 100,000. Examples from Nairobi sellers: a Kato 2.5kVA at KSh 22,000, an AICO 2.8kVA at KSh 23,500, a Honda-badged 5.5kVA at KSh 28,000, a Maxmech 3.8kVA at KSh 32,000, a 4kVA Hisaki at KSh 34,500 and a Freevel 6.3kVA at KSh 57,000. Listing titles are written by sellers, so confirm the actual brand, engine and output on a spec plate before paying.

Prices are shop asking prices and many are marked negotiable. They move with the exchange rate and stock, so check live listings before you decide.

Petrol generator price in Kenya (2 to 10kVA)

Small petrol generators are the most common choice for homes, salons, M-Pesa shops and small offices. Based on the same October 2026 listings:

2.5 to 4kVA: about KSh 22,000 to KSh 35,000 (Kato 2.5kVA KSh 22,000; AICO 2.8kVA KSh 23,500; Maxmech 3.8kVA KSh 32,000).
6 to 10kVA: about KSh 57,000 to KSh 99,000 (Freevel 6.3kVA KSh 57,000; Freevel 9.8kVA KSh 72,500; Total 9kVA KSh 98,999).
Branded Japanese units: A Honda Elemax SHX1000 (900 watts) was KSh 95,500 on Jiji Kenya, which shows how much a premium small unit costs compared with generic imports.

Welding generators are a separate category on the same pages, at roughly KSh 24,000 to KSh 28,000 for the units we saw, so read titles carefully if you want a household power set.

Diesel generator price in Kenya

Diesel generators cost more upfront but suit long running hours. Among the same listings, a TAVAS DG10000SE-3 soundproof diesel generator was KSh 199,999 and an air-cooled Hisaki 10kVA diesel set was KSh 185,000. A 10kVA Premier silent set with an ATS (automatic transfer switch) was advertised at KSh 180,000. These are all new and sold from Nairobi.

At the larger end, a used ex-UK 100kVA Perkins silent diesel generator was KSh 1,520,000 in an Industrial Area listing. Another listing for a brand new unit was priced at KSh 2,950,000, negotiable, with the title saying 220kVA and the description saying 200kVA, which is a good example of why you should confirm the rating in writing. YorPower, a generator supplier with a Nairobi office, says on its Kenya page that it supplies new and used diesel sets and Perkins-powered units, along with installation, spares and load bank testing. It does not publish prices.

How to size a generator in kVA

Add up the watts of everything you will run at the same time, then allow extra for motors. Fridges, freezers, pumps and air conditioners draw a surge when they start, often several times their running load, so a generator that barely covers your total will struggle. A practical method:

List each appliance and its running watts from the label.
Mark motor loads such as fridges, borehole pumps, welders and compressors, and ask the seller for the starting load.
Add 20 to 30 percent headroom so the generator is not running flat out.
Convert watts to kVA by dividing by about 0.8 for a typical power factor, then pick the next size up.

As a rough guide, a few lights, phone chargers and a TV need very little. A fridge plus lights suits a small unit. A shop with several freezers, a computer and a till suits the 5 to 10kVA range. Anything with three-phase machinery needs a three-phase set, so tell the seller exactly which machines you run.

Petrol or diesel generator: which is better in Kenya?

Petrol units are cheaper, lighter and fine for a few hours of backup at a time. Diesel engines are built for longer running hours and usually use less fuel per unit of electricity, which is why larger sets are almost always diesel. If you will run the generator for many hours a day, the extra upfront cost of diesel is more likely to pay off. If you only need cover during an outage now and then, petrol is easier on the budget. Check current pump prices yourself, because fuel costs change and we have not quoted any here.

Why Kenyans buy generators: outages

Backup power remains a real need for many businesses. Kenya has had nationwide blackouts, including one reported in March 2023 that Kenya Power attributed to a bulk power supply failure, and a Nation explainer on outages lists causes such as equipment faults, vandalism and ageing lines. We are not quoting an outage frequency because we could not verify a current statistic. If your business loses money when power drops, such as a cold room or a salon, a generator with an automatic transfer switch is worth pricing.

Buying a generator: mistakes to avoid

Trusting the title: Ask for the brand, engine model and rated output as printed on the generator.
Ignoring running costs: Ask about fuel consumption at 50 and 75 percent load.
Skipping the warranty and spares check: Confirm who services it in your town.
Buying used without a load test: Ask for engine hours and run it under load before paying.
Forgetting installation: Large sets need proper cabling, ventilation and exhaust.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest generator in Kenya? New small petrol units start around KSh 22,000 in the October 2026 listings we checked, for about 2.5kVA.

How much is a 10kVA generator in Kenya? New 10kVA diesel sets were around KSh 180,000 to KSh 200,000 in the listings we saw, and 9 to 10kVA petrol units were around KSh 72,500 to KSh 99,000.

What size generator do I need for a home? For a few lights, a TV and a fridge, a small petrol unit of 2.5 to 4kVA is a common choice. Add up your loads and allow for motor start-up to be sure.

Are used generators worth buying? They can be, especially large diesel sets, but only after you check engine hours and run the set under load.

Getting started

Browse generator listings on Comilmart and chat with sellers about specs before you buy. Buyer protection holds payment until delivery is confirmed, with a 7-day window to report issues. If you are buying in bulk to resell, the wholesale catalog shows MOQs and tiered pricing, and our guide on finding verified wholesale suppliers in Kenya explains how to vet a supplier. Sourcing in Mombasa? Read wholesale suppliers in Mombasa. Create a free account to request quotes.