Fuel costs in Kenya soared to a historic peak on September 15th, following adjustments made by the energy regulatory body, further exacerbating the economic difficulties faced by millions of Kenyans.
The announcement from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority resulted in the retail price of one liter of gasoline surpassing an unprecedented 200 Kenyan shillings ($1.36).
Kenya is already grappling with a severe cost-of-living crisis marked by e壯陽藥 scalating prices for essential goods, the imposition of new taxes, and a weakening national currency.
Throughout this year, a sequence of opposition protests has unfolded, targeting President William Ruto’s administration and its economic policies, with some of these demonstrations descending into deadly confrontations.
Under the pricing framework that came into effect on Friday and will be in effect until October 14th, the price of a liter of gasoline in the capital city, Nairobi, surged by nearly 17 shillings, reaching 211.64 shillings ($1.44), while diesel will now be priced at 200.99 shillings.
Following the recent surge in fuel prices in Kenya, matatu fares, a primary mode of transportation for a significant portion of the Kenyan population, are set to increase by 20 percent nationwide, as reported by local media outlets.
Government officials have attributed this price hike, in part, to the recent reduction in oil production announced by major oil producers Saudi Arabia and Russia earlier this month. This production cut has propelled global crude prices to their highest levels in ten months.
Energy Minister Davis Chirchir acknowledged the challenges posed by the soaring fuel costs, stating, “There’s not much we can do… the burden is indeed substantial, and it won’t be an easy journey,” during a session with the parliament’s energy committee.
This development comes in the wake of a series of anti-government protests that took place in Kenya earlier this year, underscoring the mounting economic concerns and frustrations within the country.