Kiharu Member of Parliament, Ndindi Nyoro, has announced that he has written an urgent letter to the National Assembly seeking immediate amendments to several laws to bring down fuel prices to below Ksh190 per litre.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Nyoro announced on Friday, May 15, during a press briefing in Nairobi, barely a day after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced sharp increases in fuel prices across the country.

Under the new prices, super petrol rose by Ksh16.65 per litre while diesel increased by Ksh46.29 per litre, pushing the prices to Ksh214.25 and Ksh242.92 respectively for the next 30 days. Kerosene prices remained unchanged.

“I have written to the National Assembly on the intention of amending the Road Maintenance Levy Fund by abolishing the Ksh7 that was added in the year 2024,” Nyoro said.

📌 What You Need to Know

“This will give respite to Kenyans. If this is passed, the current prices for petrol and diesel should then come down to below Ksh190 for a litre of either,” he added.

According to Nyoro, the government can immediately lower fuel prices through a combination of tax cuts, subsidies and removal of additional levies currently charged on petroleum products.

He explained that reducing VAT on fuel by an additional 5 per cent would lower prices by about Ksh8 per litre . Kenya had initially imposed VAT on fuel at 16 per cent before Treasury CS John M'badi reduced it to 8 per cent for 90 days following the economic pressure caused by the Middle East conflict and rising global oil prices.

Nyoro further proposed the removal of the Ksh7 Road Maintenance Levy (RML) introduced in 2024, arguing that the levy has heavily burdened consumers and transporters at a time when the cost of living remains high.

“The other thing is subsidies. Diesel, as you have seen in the latest pricing formula, had a higher landing cost. We must also provide Ksh5 billion from the Fuel Stabilisation Fund so that we can reduce diesel by around Ksh12 per litre,” Nyoro stated.

Based on his calculations, Nyoro argued that a Ksh8 reduction through VAT cuts, Ksh7 from the removal of the fuel levy and another Ksh12 through the stabilisation fund would collectively lower fuel prices by about Ksh27 per litre.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke