Kenyans can breathe a sigh of relief after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) reduced fuel prices.
Prices for a litre of Super petrol was dropped to Ksh178 from Ksh179.30. Diesel will now retail at Ksh163 from Ksh165 while Kerosene was dropped to Ksh146 from Ksh147.94.
Petrol and Kerosene were both reduced by Ksh1 and Diesel by Ksh2.
The new prices take effect from October 14 at midnight for a period of one month.
“Taking into account the weighted average cost of imported refined petroleum products and in line with Government policy, the changes in the maximum allowed petroleum pump prices in Nairobi are as follows: Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene decrease by Kshs1 per litre, Kshs2 per litre and Kshs1 per litre respectively.
“The prices are inclusive of the 8% Value Added Tax (VAT) in line with the provisions of the Finance Act 2018, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2020 and the revised rates for excise duty adjusted for inflation as per Legal Notice No. 194 of 2020,” EPRA announced.
The government agency noted that the drop in fuel prices was occasioned by the maintenance of fuel subsidies on Diesel and Kerosene.
“A subsidy of Kshs18.15 per litre and Kshs27.47 per litre has been maintained for Diesel and Kerosene respectively in order to cushion consumers from the high prices.
“The Government will utilise the Petroleum Development Levy to compensate oil marketing companies for the difference in cost,” EPRA explained.
In Mombasa, Super petrol will now retail at Ksh175, Diesel at Ksh160 and Kerosene at Ksh144.
On the other hand, Kisumu residents will part with Ksh178 for a litre of Super petrol, Ksh163 for Diesel and Ksh147 for Kerosene. This also applies to Eldoret.
Some areas will, however, purchase fuel as high as between Ksh180 and Ksh189 in the new review. The affected areas include Mwingi, Nanyuki, Migori and parts of Kisii county.
Ruto was under pressure from the opposition who accused him of having blamed his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, for failing to cushion Kenyans from high cost of living.
Azimio La Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, had predicted that the fuel prices would rise again for the period between October-November 2022. Raila blamed Ruto for the hike, arguing that they it would have been necessitated by his decision to lift the subsidies Uhuru had put in place.
The former Prime Minister made the claims while speaking to Bunge la Mwananchi at Jevanjee Gardens on Tuesday, October 11.
“Every time they were blaming Uhuru but he was trying like other heads of state worldwide. Uhuru protected Kenyans from the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But now they have said that it is unsustainable, this week the price of fuel will go up again,” Raila argued.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE
