National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has assured Kenyans that the government is weighing fresh interventions to ease the burden of soaring fuel prices, which continue to pile pressure on households and businesses across the country.
Speaking in Kisumu during a public engagement, Mbadi revealed that the Treasury is exploring additional measures, including further tax adjustments and expanded fuel stabilisation programmes, to protect consumers from rising petroleum product prices. He admitted that while billions of shillings have already been spent to cushion Kenyans from the global fuel shock, the interventions have not fully contained the crisis.
“We have a problem in the Middle East, which has caused a scarcity of fuel, and the prices of fuel have gone up. Last month, we tried very hard and used Sh6.2 billion to stabilise the prices of fuel. And we reduced VAT by eight per cent,” Mbadi said. “This month, we again added another Sh5 billion to steady the prices of fuel. But they are still high.”
The CS disclosed that the Treasury will engage President William Ruto on possible options aimed at lowering the cost of petroleum products. “What we are going to do is sit down with the President, to make sure that whatever it takes, we try to lower the prices of petroleum products, so that our people can find peace and should not suffer because of rising prices,” he explained.
Mbadi defended the government against criticism over escalating fuel costs, stressing that the crisis is global and not unique to Kenya. He pointed to the United States, one of the world’s largest oil producers, where fuel prices have surged by 60 per cent in recent months. “Everywhere in the world, the prices have gone up. But here at home, we must do whatever it takes,” he added.
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At the same time, Mbadi cautioned politicians against politicising the fuel crisis, urging leaders to approach the matter with sobriety and collective responsibility. “This is not something to be politicised. This is something to discuss and debate soberly as leaders and as people in power, to make sure we look at the options available,” he said.
Among the options under consideration, Mbadi revealed, is reviewing VAT on petroleum products further, as well as sourcing additional resources for fuel stabilisation. “The other option is to look for more resources and stabilise the prices of petroleum commodities,” he noted.
ODM National Party leader Dr Oburu Oginga also weighed in, urging Kenyans to remain patient as the government works on long‑term solutions. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga described the rising fuel prices as part of a wider global economic challenge affecting many countries, assuring Kenyans that the government is committed to cushioning vulnerable families from the impact of the crisis.
The rising cost of fuel has already triggered an increase in transport fares and the prices of essential commodities, deepening cost‑of‑living concerns among Kenyans grappling with high inflation and economic hardship. Analysts warn that sustained high fuel prices could further drive up production costs and food prices, with ripple effects across key sectors of the economy.
By Fredrick Odiero
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