Kiharu Member of Parliament (MP) Ndindi Nyoro has blamed Kenya’s high fuel prices on excessive taxes and levies, rather than global market dynamics.

Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, July 17, 2025, Nyoro pointed to regional comparisons that show Kenya’s prices are significantly higher than those of neighbouring countries.

He highlighted that petrol in Kenya currently retails at Ksh186 per litre, while in Tanzania it costs Ksh142, in Uganda it is below Ksh180, in Ethiopia it is under Ksh125, and in Rwanda it is below Ksh170.

“The current price of petrol is Ksh186. If you cross the border to Tanzania, petrol prices are Ksh 142; Uganda is below 180; Ethiopia, the current price is below Ksh 125; and Rwanda is below Ksh 170,” he said.

“The basic issue here is the fuel prices in Kenya have been high, not because of global issues but because of exorbitant taxes and levies,” he added.

He cited the introduction of a Ksh7 levy by the government as a key contributor to the price burden the country is facing.

“The government introduced a levy of Ksh7, which is why when global oil prices went down, Kenya never noticed because that was when the levy was introduced,” he said.

Nyoro also criticised conflicting statements from the Ministry of Energy, Transport, and the National Treasury, describing them as confusing and damaging to public trust.

“I saw the statements from the Ministry of Energy and Transport as well as the Treasury’s. I have noticed that there were conflicting statements from the chair and his CEO, even in the responses given by ministers. Kenyans may lack faith by seeing conflicting information coming from the government,” he added.

EPRA

His remarks come a day after the Director General of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Daniel Kiptoo, rejected assertions by Nyoro that domestic policy inefficiencies are behind the recent fuel price hike.  

 Speaking at an event on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, Kiptoo clarified that the increase is entirely due to rising international oil prices.

“The increase is purely on account of the spike in international prices. Any insinuation that this is due to internal mismanagement or policy failures is not accurate,” he said.

His comments follow public criticism from MP Nyoro, who urged the government to re-evaluate taxation policies and streamline the supply chain to ease pressure at the pump.

 “We must address the root causes locally. Kenyans are paying the price for inefficiencies that can be corrected,” Nyoro stated.

“Global oil prices peaked last year, not this year. It is clear that the government is using false narratives to justify high pump prices.”