Motorists and businesses await EPRA’s June-July fuel price review as President William Ruto’s promised Sh10 diesel cut faces a key test.

📻 Breaking It Down

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 14 — Motorists, transporters and businesses are awaiting Sunday’s fuel price review with heightened anticipation after last month’s steep price hikes triggered protests and forced the government to promise fresh relief at the pump.

The June-July pricing announcement by will be closely scrutinised for signs that the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) is following through on President William Ruto’s pledge to lower diesel prices by a further Sh10 per litre.

Ruto made the commitment on May 22 after negotiations with transport stakeholders ended a threat of renewed nationwide strike action that had been suspended following a two-day lockdown that paralysed sections of the economy.

📌 What You Need to Know

The review comes against the backdrop of the sharpest fuel increase in the May-June cycle, which saw diesel prices in Nairobi jump by Sh46.29 per litre to Sh242.92, while petrol rose by Sh16.65 to Sh214.25.

The increases sparked outrage among transport operators, who warned that the surge would cascade through the economy by raising the cost of moving goods, food and passengers.

Seeking to calm tensions, Ruto met industry representatives in Mombasa and pledged additional interventions to cushion consumers and businesses from escalating energy costs.

The President argued that the government remains committed to reducing fuel costs despite mounting global pressures linked to the US-Iran conflict and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route whose disruption has contributed to recent spikes in global oil prices.

The government defended its fuel stabilisation measures, citing Sh13.74 billion deployed through the Petroleum Development Fund and the reduction of VAT on petroleum products from 16 per cent to 8 per cent.

Ruto maintained that the interventions had helped moderate the impact of global oil price volatility and that diesel prices had already fallen by more than Sh85 per litre over successive review cycles.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya