Hello and welcome to the Evening Brief Newsletter where we are looking forward to vrooming around endlessly on the fuel slump
Situational Awareness: The Pride of Kenya. Airports Council International (ACI World) names Moi International Airport as the best airport in Africa.
- The Airport, which processes traffic below 2 million, was recognised for its outstanding customer service.
- What Kenya Airports Authority is Saying: "This accolade reaffirms our commitment to providing exceptional experiences to all our passengers and serves as an inspiration for us to continue elevating our standards, ensuring MIA remains a leader in its category."
Housekeeping: We are thrilled to announce that this newsletter is expanding and an edition will henceforth be available on our site, Kenyans.co.ke.
Fulfilled Promise
Kenyans who had parked their cars after fuel prices began hiking a year ago now have a reason to vroom around endlessly.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), on Thursday, announced that it was lowering its fuel prices by as high a margin as Ksh7 per litre.
In its latest review, EPRA reduced Super Petrol prices by Ksh7.21. Diesel was reduced by Ksh5.09 and Kerosene by Ksh4.49.
The Numbers: In Nairobi, Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene will now retail at Ksh199.15, Ksh190.38 and Ksh188.74 effective midnight.
- In Mombasa, a litre of Petrol will retail at Ksh195.97 while Kerosene will retail at Ksh187.21. Kerosene is Ksh185.58.
- In Kisumu, motorists will purchase Super Petrol at Ksh198.97 and Diesel at Ksh190.59. EPRA capped the price of Kerosene at Ksh188.96.
- In Nakuru and Eldoret, motorists will purchase a litre of Super Petrol at Ksh198.21 and Ksh198.98 respectively.
What EPRA is Saying: "The prices are inclusive of the 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) in line with the provisions of the Finance Act 2023, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2020 and the revised rates for excise duty adjusted for inflation as per Legal Notice No. 194 of 2020."
Economic Shocks: The prices were on an upward spiral since January 2023 after President William Ruto took over the reins. He immediately increased VAT to 16 per cent and removed all subsidies.
Ruto Chest Thump
Hours ahead of the EPRA announcement, President William Ruto had taken to the streets to announce the expected steep drop.
Standing atop his presidential fuel guzzler, the Head of State told a crowd at a roadside rally in Belgut to expect a significant drop in fuel, insisting that early measures experts deemed punitive had begun paying off.
What Ruto is Saying: "I want to tell you that even fuel prices will go down so relax. Today is March 14 and we will get new low fuel prices."
His Reasoning: "We had agreed that we shall change Kenya through development strategies. I asked for time to upend the economy. You can see it is aligning. The dollar has dropped to Ksh137. We had debts but we have planned them."
Between the Lines: In the past year, petrol fuel price had crossed Ksh200 per litre for the first time. Last month, Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene retail at Ksh206.36, Ksh195.47 and Ksh193.23 respectively.
10-foot pole: "I am not in any way responsible for the drop and increase of oil prices, there are other parties including oil producers who took the decision to reduce the prices,” Ruto stated in December 2023.
Always a Supermarket Attendant
Two weeks after winning a windfall of Ksh31 million in Kenya last month, English Golfer Joe Dean has returned to his first love, delivering groceries.
The 29-year-old from Sheffield while speaking to UK-based ITV news, revealed that the success on February 25, felt strange to him adding that he was only focused on making the shot at the Kenya Golf Open competition.
He explained that the winnings were enough to cater for his needs until the next season and is concerned with the scarcity of sponsorship especially for budding golfers.
His Words: "The money is ridiculous that I won. But I was just more focused on the shot at the time. Just one shot at a time, just keep in the moment and see what happens."
- "It could be another month or so before my next start. My fiancee, may kick me back here and tell me to get some shifts in rather than sit on the settee."
Catch Up Quick: Dean won USD216,000 (Ksh31 million) during the Kenya Open golf competition, effectively catapulting him into millionaire status.
Ranked at position 2.930 in the Golf world, the sportsman had worked as a delivery driver for Morrisons supermarket in an effort to make ends meet.
Data Point: Kenyans Are Not Stressed
Kenyans are among the countries whose citizens are less stressed in Africa, a report by the Annual Mental State of the World Report has shown.
Data showed that Kenya was ranked fourth in Africa after only 23 per cent of the population admitted they were either distressed or struggling.
In Africa, Tanzania emerged top followed by Nigeria and Zimbabwe. DRC follwed Kenya.
In contrast, first-world countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom performed poorly, with their citizens scoring 25 per cent and 35 per cent respectively.
Parameters: Tallied out of 100 per cent, the ranking was based on countries showing the highest percentages of citizens who are distressed or struggling.
Here are five other stories to keep in mind today;
1.Tough bosses. DP Rigathi Gachagua claims President William Ruto pushes him to wake up earlier than he prefers.
2. Matatu bosses promise transport charges in Nairobi will drop after a slump in fuel prices.
3. Ruto ready to sign the Affordable Housing Bill into law on Saturday, March 16, paving the way for deductions at the end of March.
4. President William Ruto gives Agriculture CS seven days to sort out the shortage of subsidised fertiliser.
5. Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has declared 13 areas near the Dabel Artisinal Mining Sites as disturbed.
This newsletter was written by Derrick Kubasu and edited by Brian Muuo.
Washington Mito contributed to the content.
Graphics prepared by Adongo Kyalo
