Address uncomfortable questions, PLO Lumumba to Government amidst fuel price hike
Former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission boss Prof PLO Lumumba has called President William Ruto-led government to contemplate unsettling inquiries amidst soaring fuel prices.
This comes after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) raised petrol prices by Sh5.72 per litre, diesel by Sh4.48 a litre, and kerosene by Sh2.45 from 15 October 2023 to 14 November 2023.
This means a liter of super petrol will retail at Sh217.36 in Nairobi, diesel at Sh205.47 while kerosene will retail at Sh205.06. In light of the increment, PLO Lumumba said, “I am in the habit of giving the benefit of the doubt, however, at this rate, the Government must pause and ask many uncomfortable questions.”
Fuel prices have been skyrocketing in the recent past with last month’s prices of petrol increasing by Sh16.96 per litre of petrol, diesel by Sh21.32, and kerosene by Sh33.13. This meant that petrol in Nairobi was retailing at Sh211.64, Sh200.99 for diesel, and Sh202.61 for kerosene.
As fuel prices keep going up, the cost of living increases making life more unbearable for most Kenyans. Last month, the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) for instance increased fares by up to 20 per cent on all routes immediately after Epra’s announcement.
Speaking during a press briefing on Saturday, Energy CS Davis Chichir said that the cabinet agreed to use the Petroleum Development Levy Fund (PDLF) to cushion Kenyans with a litre of petrol and diesel being levied at Sh5.40.
This means, without the PDLF, petrol would have retailed at Sh220.43 per litre in Nairobi, diesel at Sh217.11, and kerosene at Sh214.66.
“The government made the decision to stabilise the price of diesel by the largest margin because it plays a major role in the cost of living as it is applied in various uses including transport, electricity generation, and farming,” he said.