Motorists Association Issues Demands To Gov't After Fuel Hike

The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) has condemned the recent fuel price hike by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). 

In a statement on Thursday, July 17, MAK questioned why the fuel prices went up despite Global oil prices remaining below $70 per barrel.

“This abrupt hike price of Super Petrol by Kes 8.99 & Diesel 8.67 per litre on both petrol and diesel by the Ministry of Energy through the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) caught motorists completely by surprise and left us shocked and lost for words.

“Having now processed the shock, we must express our disgust and total dismay at the deliberate exploitation of Kenyan motorists. This increase is irrational and indefensible. Global oil prices remain below USD 70 per barrel, yet Kenyans have been denied the benefit of these favorable prices,” read the statement in part.

MAK demanded a return to a free-market system where pump prices are determined by genuine world market forces and healthy competition among suppliers.

The association also called for the reintroduction of the Open Tender System (OTS), which enabled the procurement of oil from the most affordable suppliers.

“We, as motorists, demand a return to a free-market system where pump prices are determined by genuine world market forces and healthy competition among suppliers. We further call for a return to the Open Tender System (OTS), which allowed sourcing of oil from the cheapest suppliers and ensured fair downstream distribution at the lowest possible price,” MAK stated.

Further, the association demanded the immediate removal of the unjustified increase in oil marketers’ margins, adequate compensation for motorists whose vehicles have been damaged by adulterated fuel, and a return to fair, scientifically-based fuel pricing.

MAK threatened to call for protests if the demands are not fulfilled by the government.

“If these demands are not met, motorists will have no choice but to pursue peaceful protests and court action to defend our right to fair, transparent, and affordable fuel pricing,” MAK added.

This comes after Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro claimed that the recent surge in fuel prices is tied to domestic levies and questionable government borrowing practices.

Nyoro claimed that Kenyans are being weighed down by hidden levies, notably a Ksh7-per-litre charge allegedly introduced in 2023 without public knowledge.

“The government of Kenya actually added a new levy of seven shillings to fuel prices last year,” Nyoro said.

 “This is partly why fuel prices keep going up. What’s even more unfortunate is that this year, the government has used that seven-shilling levy as collateral to secure a loan of Ksh175 billion from banks. This money doesn’t appear in the government’s official debt records.”

EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo on Wednesday clarified that the latest increase in fuel prices reflects global market trends, not internal policy decisions.

“For Super Petrol, the May price was Ksh671.79 per barrel, rising to Ksh716.94 in June. a Ksh45.15 increase, or 6.78 percent.

"For Diesel, it increased from Ksh563.00 to Ksh616.47, a Ksh53.47 jump, or 9.33 percent. Kerosene rose from Ksh598.43 to Ksh647.20, up by Ksh48.77, or 8.15 percent,” Kiptoo explained.