Oburu Oginga eyes talks with Ruto, Mbadi over fuel price relief
By Faith Lagat, May 17, 2026ODM leader Oburu Oginga has announced plans to engage President William Ruto and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi over measures aimed at lowering fuel prices and easing the cost burden on Kenyans.
Speaking during the ODM Nyanza Delegates Consultative Forum in Kisumu on May 17, 2026, Oburu said the country was facing increased economic pressure linked to rising fuel costs, which he partly attributed to developments in the Middle East affecting global oil supply and landing prices.
“We know the price of fuel is high, and our people are suffering. We are going to approach President Ruto and our Minister of Finance, John Mbadi, and we are going to talk and see how people can be given some relief,” Oburu stated.
He called for consideration of additional interventions, including tax relief measures, to cushion households, businesses, and the transport sector from the impact of increased fuel prices.
Calls for tax reforms
The remarks come amid growing political pressure for tax adjustments following the latest fuel price review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority. Under the new prices announced on May 14, Super Petrol in Nairobi rose by Ksh16.65 to Ksh214.25 per litre, while Diesel increased by Ksh46.29 to Ksh242.92 per litre.
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has called for fuel to be zero-rated on VAT and for reductions in the Road Maintenance Levy. “We are going there to push for VAT to be reduced further to zero per cent… We should not place an even heavier burden on our people,” Osotsi said during a public event in Busali.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has also requested an emergency recall of Parliament to debate fuel tax reforms, including reducing VAT on fuel from 8 per cent to zero and removing the Ksh7 Road Maintenance Levy.
Government response and economic concerns
Treasury CS John Mbadi recently acknowledged the impact of the price increases and stated that the government had spent billions of shillings on fuel stabilisation measures after reducing VAT from 16 per cent to 8 per cent.
“There is a problem in the Middle East… We will sit down with the President to make sure that, whatever it takes, we try to lower the prices,” Mbadi said on May 16.
The fuel price increases have triggered fare adjustments by transport operators, with some sector players announcing plans for industrial action over rising operational costs.
Discussions on long-term interventions, including accelerated oil production and regional refining capacity, continue as the government faces pressure to address the rising cost of living.