Willis Otieno slams Ruto for reneging on affordable gas promise as prices soar
By Emmanuel Rono, April 19, 2026Safina Party Deputy Party Leader Willis Otieno has criticised President William Ruto over the rising cost of cooking gas, accusing the government of failing to deliver on earlier promises to lower prices.
In a statement on his X account on Sunday, April 19, 2026, Otieno stated that the cost of a 13kg cooking gas refill in Nairobi has marked an increase of about Ksh370, increasing to approximately Ksh3,510.
Willis Otieno attributed the hike to rising global LPG prices and ongoing supply disruptions, but he questioned the government’s earlier commitment to make gas more affordable.
“Cooking gas prices in Nairobi have risen sharply, with a 13kg refill now going for about Ksh3,510 , an increase of roughly Ksh370 ,largely driven by higher global LPG costs and ongoing supply disruptions,” Otieno stated.
Otieno questioned whether this was the same cooking gas that the wananchi were once promised during campaigns that would cost as little as Ksh500, asking what had changed to push prices.
“Isn’t this the same gas that Wananchi were promised would cost as little as Ksh 500? What exactly changed between that promise and the current reality?” Otieno asked.
Reduced fuel prices
His sentiments come days after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced a downward adjustment in fuel prices following a reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT).
In an addendum to its earlier pricing review released on April 14, 2026, EPRA said the revised prices follow a directive by the National Treasury to cut VAT on petroleum products from 13 per cent to 8 per cent under a legal notice dated April 15, 2026.
“As a result, the pump price per litre in Nairobi of Super Petrol and Diesel decreases by Ksh9.37 and Ksh10.21, respectively, while that of Kerosene remains unchanged,” read the statement by EPRA.
The regulator outlined new pump prices in Nairobi, noting that “Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene now retail at Ksh197.60, Ksh196.63 and Ksh152.78 respectively.”