Kenya acts after fuel price rises

President William Ruto ordered emergency talks on May 18 after protests over fuel prices disrupted transport across Kenya, and the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority later revised pump prices effective May 19. The government had already deployed about KSh5 billion from the Petroleum Development Levy Fund in the May 15-June 14 pricing cycle to cushion diesel and kerosene, according to EPRA and Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi. Officials linked the pressure to higher imported fuel costs, freight charges and geopolitical tensions affecting oil markets. By late Monday, EPRA had cut diesel by KSh10.06 a litre from the level announced four days earlier, left super petrol unchanged and raised kerosene by KSh38.60. ### Why did Kenya move again after the May 15 fuel review? EPRA said on May 14 that super petrol and diesel prices for the May 15 to June 14 cycle would rise by KSh16.65 and KSh46.29 a litre respectively, while kerosene would remain unchanged. The regulator said the government would use approximately KSh5 billion from the Petroleum Development Levy Fund to subsidize diesel and kerosene in that cycle. (epra.go.ke) Opiyo Wandayi said the increase reflected global market pressures, including rising crude oil prices, freight costs and tensions in the Middle East. The ministry also said higher insurance costs tied to instability around the Strait of Hormuz had pushed up landed fuel costs for a country that imports its petroleum products. ### What changed on May 18? (epra.go.ke) Daily Nation reported that EPRA reviewed prices after countrywide protests on Monday and said the new rates would take effect on May 19. Diesel was reduced by KSh10.06 a litre, kerosene was increased by KSh38.60 and super petrol was left unchanged, the report said. In Nairobi, the revised prices put diesel at KSh232.86 a litre, kerosene at KSh191.38 and super petrol at KSh214.25, according to the same report. (the-star.co.ke) Those figures followed Ruto's call for a crisis meeting with oil marketers and transport players for a possible review of the high fuel prices. ### Who was involved in the government response? Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said Ruto, through an online meeting, directed four cabinet secretaries to address the fuel crisis after the protests. (nation.africa) Kindiki said he would lead the meeting, while the officials involved were Opiyo Wandayi of Energy and Petroleum, John Mbadi of the National Treasury, Davis Chirchir of Transport and Kipchumba Murkomen of Interior. The Star reported on May 18 that Kindiki said the government had taken measures to cushion consumers, including cutting VAT on fuel from 16% to 8%. He said the state had not "sat down to watch Kenyans suffer" and argued pump prices could have climbed far higher without those interventions. ### What numbers did the government cite to explain the increase? (nation.africa) EPRA said the average landed cost of imported super petrol rose 10.00% to $906.23 per cubic metre in April from $823.27 in March. Diesel rose 20.32% to $1,291.98 per cubic metre, while kerosene increased 1.59% to $1,332.73, according to the regulator's May pricing notice. (the-star.co.ke) The Energy Ministry said Kenya remained exposed because it imports all petroleum products in refined form and pays international prices in U.S. dollars. It also said the government-to-government import framework had helped shield the country from higher cargo freight and premium costs. (epra.go.ke) ### What happens next? EPRA said the revised maximum retail prices will remain in force from May 19, 2026, to June 14, 2026. The immediate next test is whether the talks led by Kindiki and the four cabinet secretaries produce any further tax, subsidy or pricing changes before the next monthly review. (nation.africa) (epra.go.ke)