Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has criticised the sharp hike in fuel prices, accusing the government of misleading Kenyans about the cause of the increase.
Nyoro dismissed the Ministry of Energy’s explanation attributing the surge to fluctuations in the international oil market, claiming instead that the government was engaged in “secret borrowing” using fuel levies as collateral.
“We saw fuel prices go up drastically yesterday, and the explanation given by the government is not accurate. Blaming global oil prices falls short of the reality. Over the past year, the highest fuel prices we have seen were actually on 17th June 2024,” Nyoro stated.
The lawmaker alleged that the government quietly introduced an additional Ksh7 fuel levy while global oil prices were falling, using the levy to secure a Ksh175 billion loan that is not reflected in government debt records.
“This money is not reflected in the government’s books as debt. It can only pass as an illegal debt because whatever is not accounted for is illegal,” he said.
Nyoro, who was removed as chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee in March, questioned the sustainability of using fuel levies as collateral without parliamentary oversight, warning that it could threaten Kenya’s financial sovereignty.
His remarks came hours after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority announced an increase of Ksh8.99, Ksh8.67, and Ksh9.65 per litre for Super Petrol, Diesel, and Kerosene respectively, with Super Petrol now retailing at Ksh186.31 in Nairobi.