‘There is nothing much we can do’ – CS Chirchir says on fuel prices
Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir now says the government has no control over the skyrocketing fuel prices.
Speaking before the National Assembly’s Energy Committee, Chirchir said the country could face harder times due to escalating global fuel prices.
"We are dealing with sovereign governments as suppliers of these products. We are likely going to harder times. There is nothing much we can do about it," Chirchir.
New fuel prices
On Thursday, the Energy and Petroleum and Regulatory Authority (EPRA) increased Super Petrol prices by Ksh16.96, Diesel by Ksh21.32 and Kerosene by Ksh33.13.
The changes that took effect today, September 15, saw the retail price of a litre of Super Petrol in Nairobi rise to Ksh211.64, Diesel Ksh200.99, and Kerosene Ksh202.61.
In a statement on Friday, Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria announced that fuel prices could increase by Ksh10 every month up to February 2024.
According to Kuria, the current spike was due to an increase in global fuel prices, which he predicted could get worse.
"Global Crude Prices are on an upward trajectory. For planning purposes expect pump prices to go up by Ksh 10 every month till February," Kuria stated.
President William Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza allies had during the campaign period pledged to lower the cost of fuel by doing away with some taxes but this is yet to be actualized.
Instead, the government recently doubled Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products to 16 per cent, besides scrapping fuel subsidies introduced by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta to cushion consumers.
