A section of Kenyans have expressed their disappointment at the Jubilee government led by President Uhuru Kenyatta following an announcement by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) increasing in the fuel prices.
Under the hashtag #FuelPrices, which trended the better part of Wednesday morning, September 15, Kenyans lamented that the cost of living had significantly increased since the president's ascension to power.
EPRA announced that petrol prices had increased by Ksh7.58 per liter to retail at Ksh134.72 in Nairobi while diesel increased by Ksh7.94 to retail at Ksh115.
On the other hand, kerosene spiked by Ksh12.97 to retail at Ksh110.2.
"Are we ready now perhaps to have long, hard, wise conversations on turning this country around? There is really no space at all for empty promises. Or tribalism. Or friend-ism. None," Laura Walubengo, a content creator stated.
"When the President campaigned under the rain not so long ago, the prices were about 50% of what they are now. It’s probably the hardest a government has worked to ruin the cost of living of its people!" Tim Kipchumba, a netizen weighed in.
Secretary General of the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK), Stephen Mutoro, argued that as a result of the fuel price increase, the cost of food, transport and production would be escalated.
"Kenya's opaque and unpredictable fuel pricing will hurt the economy and strain FDIs," Mutoro stated.
The fuel prices have been going up since April, save for August when the regulator retained the July prices.
Mining and Petroleum Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS), John Musonik, explained that the state would maintain the monthly price of fuel largely due to the set up a Petroleum Development Fund (PDF).
"From April, we have been using the fund. For now, we are going to stabilise the prices as we look at all the other components in the pricing," he had stated.
