Gachagua Points to Cause of Rising Fuel Prices in Kenya

Jukwaa

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

During a press conference on Tuesday, May 19, while in the United Kingdom, Gachagua emphasised that Kenya’s fuel supply does not depend on Iran or shipping routes passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

He said that the country sources fuel from suppliers including Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in Dubai and Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia.

“We should not be told we are having a challenge because of the Strait of Hormuz. Our fuel does not come from Iran, it doesn’t go through the Strait of Hormuz. Therefore, this story that we are having a challenge because of the Strait of Hormuz is hot air,” he stated.

📌 What You Need to Know

Gachagua instead pointed to inflated profit margins in the landing cost as the cause of Kenya’s fuel price problem, accusing the government of increasing costs for consumers through petroleum pricing structures.

“The issue is that William Ruto has loaded very big profit in the landing cost of fuel and that is the way to deal with it,” he added during the press briefing.

Gachagua’s remarks came in response to the fuel price strikes that paralysed transportation nationwide from May 18, which have since been suspended for one week to allow talks between transport sector stakeholders and government officials on lowering fuel costs.

In addition to calling for lower prices, Gachagua urged motorists, matatu operators and owners of agricultural machinery to push for the removal of what he described as lower-quality fuel from the market.

He cited the government’s temporary adjustment of sulphur limits in fuel following controversy surrounding the importation of substandard petroleum products that led to the resignation of senior officials.

On April 30, sulphur limits were temporarily set at 50mg/kg for automotive gasoil and premium motor spirit. The previous standard stood at 10mg/kg under updated fuel quality regulations.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke

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