Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria warned Friday that Kenyans should brace for higher fuel prices until February amid a global spike in crude costs.
Kuria said in a tweet that pump prices could rise by KES 10 per liter monthly after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority hiked costs overnight to record levels. Super gasoline jumped KES 16.96 per liter while diesel and kerosene rose KES 21.32 and KES 33.13 respectively.
“Global crude prices are on an upward trajectory for planning purposes expect pump prices to go up by KES 10 every month till February,” he explained in a tweet.
The increase triggered public backlash as Kenyans grapple with painfully high fuel expenses.
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Kenyans are reeling from unprecedented fuel prices crossing the KES 200 per liter threshold for the first time. Petrol now costs KES 211.64 per liter, diesel KES 200.90 and kerosene KES 202.61 after the latest increase.
The price hikes come amid growing public frustration over surging inflation and taxes in Kenya’s strained economy. Many citizens vented outrage on Twitter following the fuel review, with some lamenting their inability to cope with the continuously rising costs.
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“We thank God we are still breathing, welcome to the Republic of Taxmenistan,” one upset user replied.
Fuel prices have been on the rise since President Ruto came to power. One of his first acts as president was to scrap the government’s popular yet costly fuel subsidy. The removal of the subsidy left Kenya’s market vulnerable to shocks from the global crude oil market.
With no plans to reinstate the subsidy program, citizens should expect to feel more pain at the pump in the coming months.
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