Faith Odhiambo slams fuel price hike, says Kenya’s pump costs reflect tone-deaf leadership
By Kiprono Keileb, April 15, 2026Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has strongly criticised the latest fuel price adjustments, arguing that the structure of taxes and levies on fuel continues to place an unfair burden on Kenyan consumers already struggling with high living costs.
In a statement shared on X on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Odhiambo said that fuel prices in Kenya are driven not by the actual cost of the product itself, but by accumulated taxes and levies, which she argues have pushed pump prices to some of the highest levels in the region.
She noted that this situation has a direct impact on the cost of goods and services across the economy. Odhiambo urged that the fuel prices in the country constitute about 80% of the actual cost of the product itself.
“The Taxes and Levies charged on fuel in Kenya constitute about 80% of the actual cost of the product itself. The ripple effect of surges in fuel prices on overall market dynamics places an obligation on the government to make concessions, when necessary, to cushion consumers from global spikes in prices. While the reduction of VAT from 16% to 13% is one such concession, it is far from adequate in the grand scheme of things, considering Kenyans already pay the highest pump prices regionally,” the statement reads.
Odhiambo further faulted the recent increase in fuel prices announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), saying it reflects poor leadership that fails to take into account the economic pressure faced by ordinary citizens.
She warned that continued disregard for public suffering risks deepening frustration among wananchi, and called on elected leaders to step up their oversight role and ensure accountability in policy decisions affecting essential commodities like fuel.
“The increase announced by EPRA indicates tone-deaf leadership that ignores the plight of the people. This is when the role of our parliamentarians in representation and oversight must be activated. The pain of wananchi must never go unrecognised or unresolved,” she wrote.