Kenya has received 100 million litres of petrol amid the ongoing fuel shortage that has ravaged the country for close to two weeks.
The ship ferrying the commodity docked at the Port of Mombasa on Thursday, April 7. The consignment was received by Energy Cabinet Secretary, Amb Monica Juma, and Petroleum Principal Secretary, Andrew Kamau.
Speaking after witnessing the docking of the tanker, CS Juma explained that the country has enough fuel and that motorists have nothing to be worried about.
"Across the country, I have seen the figures and I have had comprehensive briefs from all agencies engaged in this and I'm satisfied," she stated.
"So I have come here to confirm to the nation there is no need for panic."
According to the government, more tankers are expected to dock at the Port of Mombasa in the coming days to deliver millions of litres of fossil fuels.
During the budget estimates presentation in Parliament on Thursday, April 7, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Ukur Yatani, noted that the government was shielding consumers from high fuel prices through the Petroleum Development Levy Fund.
"Conscious of the adverse impact of the high oil prices on all sectors of the economy, the government has taken deliberate steps to subsidize pump prices through the Petroleum Development Levy Fund. This action has stabilized pump prices and consequently prices of goods and services," Yatani stated.
"The government remains committed to provide adequate resources to mitigate the rising cost of fuel."
Yatani's assurance and the docking of the tanker come days after President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Bill (Supplementary Budget) which saw Ksh34.4 billion allocated to oil marketers in subsidy funds.
"A sum of Ksh34,446,813,295 from the Supplementary Budget has been allocated to the Government fuel stabilization programme aimed at cushioning Kenyans from high-cost fuel prices occasioned by the worsening global energy crisis," stated State House upon the signing of the bill.
The government had accused oil marketers of creating an artificial shortage by hoarding petroleum over the fuel subsidy.
The marketers on the other hand blamed the national government for failing to release the funds on time.
