Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has called for immediate government intervention to prevent a looming fuel supply disruption that he warns could trigger sharp increases in pump prices and further strain the cost of living.
Speaking on Saturday, Nyoro expressed concern over what he termed a lack of urgency among national leaders in addressing the country’s fuel supply chain challenges. He criticised the continued focus on politics at a time when, he said, Kenya requires sober and decisive leadership to avert a potential crisis.
“I’m wondering how leaders are getting time to engage in politics now, when the country needs a very sober and intense decision on how Kenya is going to deal with an imminent disruption soon, in a matter of weeks,” Nyoro said.
The legislator cautioned that while reports of fuel shipments arriving in the country may offer temporary reassurance, they fail to address the underlying issue of the cost at which the fuel is being sourced. “Oh, there is a ship that has docked in Kenya. It’s fine. But this has to be alongside at what cost?” he posed.
Nyoro also raised alarm over reports of fuel hoarding by dealers, describing it as a sign of expected price hikes. “When you hold a million litres of fuel, and you are sure that there will be a drastic increment soon, what do you do? You hold because you have money, you are in profits. But it’s also the work of government to signal the right communication to the market,” he said.
Warning that Kenya’s economy is already under significant pressure, Nyoro said the country cannot withstand another surge in fuel prices without severe consequences for households and businesses. To cushion consumers, he proposed three urgent measures: the reintroduction of fuel subsidies starting next month, a reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel to as low as zero, and the removal of the Sh7 per litre fuel levy introduced in 2024.
Nyoro further questioned the adequacy of the Petroleum Development Levy, which he said currently holds about Sh25 billion. He argued that the fund is insufficient to sustain subsidies for more than a month, given Kenya’s estimated monthly fuel consumption of nearly 400 million litres.
“The government must act now to stabilise the market and protect Kenyans from another wave of inflation driven by fuel costs,” Nyoro said, urging policymakers to prioritise economic stability over political manoeuvring.
