Abstract The process $$e^+e^-\rightarrow K^+K^-\pi ^0$$ e + e - → K + K - π 0 is studied with the SND detector at the VEPP-2000 $$e^+e^-$$ e + e - collider. Basing on data with an integrated luminosity of 26.4  $$\hbox {pb}^{-1}$$ pb - 1 we measure the $$e^+e^-\rightarrow K^+K^-\pi ^0$$ e + e - → K + K - π 0 cross section in the center-of-mass energy range from 1.28 up to 2 GeV. The measured mass spectrum of the $$K\pi $$ K π system indicates that the dominant mechanism of this reaction is the transition through the $$K^{*}(892)K$$ K ∗ ( 892 ) K intermediate state. The cross section for the $$\phi \pi ^0$$ ϕ π 0 intermediate state is measured separately. The SND results are consistent with previous measurements in the BABAR experiment and have comparable accuracy. We study the effect of the interference between the $$\phi \pi ^0$$ ϕ π 0 and $$K^*K$$ K ∗ K amplitudes. It is found that the interference gives sizable contribution to the measured $$e^+e^- \rightarrow \phi \pi ^0\rightarrow K^+K^-\pi ^0$$ e + e - → ϕ π 0 → K + K - π 0 cross section below 1.7 GeV.