Ruto reveals govt’s Ksh12B plan to cushion Kenyans from rising fuel prices
By Emmanuel Rono, May 22, 2026President William Ruto has announced that the government has already used Ksh12.45 billion to cushion Kenyans from volatile fuel prices during the April–May pricing cycle, in a move aimed at stabilising transport and commodity costs.
Speaking during a presser on Friday, May 22, 2026, in Mombasa, Ruto stated that the funds will be used under the fuel price stabilisation mechanism to absorb global oil market shocks and ensure consumers are not subjected to sudden price increases.
“In total, we have spent Ksh12.45 billion on stabilising fuel prices in the April and May cycle,” Ruto said.
Ruto noted that the fuel crisis is a global thing, adding that countries have introduced emergency measures to address the crisis. He stated that other countries have ended up instructing citizens to work from home in order to reduce fuel consumption.
Continuous supply
He said that Kenya has stepped up to ensure that the country continues to receive a continuous supply across the country.
“We have stepped up to ensure Kenyans continue to receive a stable, continuous fuel supply within the country and to cushion Kenyans as much as possible from the full impact of this global crisis,” Ruto stated.
Ruto said in order to cushion Kenyans from the crisis, the government has used the Petroleum Development Fund to address the issue in the previous two-month cycle.
“In the last two pricing cycles alone, that is, the April and May cycles, the government has utilised 13.7 billion to cushion the consumers. This intervention is meant to protect households and businesses from unpredictable global oil price fluctuations,” Ruto said.