Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has claimed President William Ruto directed EPRA to keep kerosene prices unchanged despite petrol and diesel hikes. The move aims to protect low-income households. The government also introduced a Ksh6.2 billion fuel subsidy and cut VAT on fuel.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi spoke in Siaya County's Ugunja on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, during a mass voter registration drive. He claimed President William Ruto directed the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to hold kerosene prices steady to shield low-income households reliant on it for cooking and lighting.
EPRA's April-May 2026 review, released April 14, raised super petrol by Ksh28.69 per litre and diesel by Ksh40.30 per litre, leaving kerosene unchanged. Wandayi said prices would have risen more without a Ksh6.2 billion subsidy ordered by the President.
“Yesterday you saw the hike in fuel prices, but I want to tell you, do not have any worry,” Wandayi said. The government also temporarily cut Value Added Tax on fuel from 16% to 13% for three months to mitigate high pump prices' effects.
Wandayi attributed the increases to the ongoing Middle East war, stating, "The President also told me that, despite the rise in petrol and diesel prices, kerosene should not be raised. So if the U.S./Israel-Iran war ends, fuel prices will go down." Public Service Vehicle operators announced at least 25% fare hikes nationwide.
