Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna on Wednesday, April 15, criticised President William Ruto and an ODM-affiliated expert in the broad-based government over the recent hike in fuel prices.
Sifuna accused the leadership of misleading Kenyans by assuring them that the government would shield consumers from the impact of the Iran conflict on global petroleum prices.
He argued that the promised mitigation measures had not been effective, pointing to the April–May fuel review that saw increases of Ksh28 for petrol and Ksh40 for diesel.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna Slams State Over Fuel Hike. Photo: Courtesy.
The senator further claimed that public officials had given false or misleading information regarding fuel pricing and questioned earlier assurances that strategic interventions had stabilised costs.
He faulted President Ruto over the sharp rise in fuel prices, saying the Head of State should take responsibility for the increase.
In the lead-up to the latest fuel price review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi assured Kenyans that the government would cushion consumers against rising fuel costs.
However, as details of the imported fuel arrangement emerged, he indicated that the arrangement would have increased prices by about Ksh14 per litre, significantly lower than the Ksh28 rise recorded for super petrol in the current review.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi also told Parliament that the government had considered reducing the value-added tax (VAT) on fuel as part of efforts to ease pressure on consumers.
He further noted that the Treasury planned to use the Petroleum Development Levy to subsidise fuel prices.
According to EPRA documentation, VAT on super petrol, kerosene, and diesel was reduced from 16 percent to 13 percent.
The Authority also indicated that Ksh6.2 billion from the Petroleum Development Levy would be used to stabilise fuel prices.
