Raila Odinga Mounts Pressure On William Ruto To Reduce Fuel Prices By KSh 50

• Raila Odinga informed Kenyans that the prices of fuel commodities in the global market had significantly reduced and thus the government would have nowhere to hide
• For the impact to be felt at the Kenyan pumps, the former prime minister called on the government to consider reviewing the prices downward by at least KSh 45
• While absolving itself from blame in the face of the constantly inflating fuel prices, the government explained that the market forces were being controlled by the oil-producing countries

Nairobi - Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga now wants the government to significantly reduce the prices of fuel at no less than KSh 50.

Raila observed that the prices had largely fallen in the global market and that ought to be felt at the pump.

He said on Saturday, December 9, while in Kajiado East where he had graced a prayer service.

His new demand came ahead of price review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on December 14.

The opposition leader said it would be inconsequential to have meagre reduction margins of less than KSh 50 considering the current rates internationally.

"We are aware that fuel prices have dropped internationally. We are expecting the reduction this month to be by at least KSh 45 for a litre, or even KSh 50, not KSh 5," he said.

Kenya witnessed a historic surge in fuel prices in September this year when a litre crossed the unprecedented KSh 200 mark.

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the surge was due to global factors the government could not control.

While appearing before the National Assembly's departmental committee on Energy on Friday, Chirchir listed several forces in the global oil market that have left the government vulnerable.

What was CS Davis Chirchir's take?

According to him, the oil-producing countries under the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) determined the landing international cost prices, which have now had the ultimate impact at the pump.

He singled out the prevalent political situation in those countries, the Ukraine-Russia crisis, and the wintery conditions as the underlying factors.

Chirchir said things would not change for the better soon, with the government playing along despite the lamentations from Kenyans.

He further observed before the committee that the OPEC suppliers had cut the quantities supplied daily by a considerable margin, increasing demand.

"These are prices from OPEC and there is nothing much we can do about and we are likely to go to harder times. There have been some 3.6 million barrels cut on a daily basis which is about 4%," he said.

Compounding the situation, the CS said, was that Kenya does not produce its own product, hence the dependence on international suppliers.

While admitting the pricing was unprecedented, Chirchir noted that, among others, countries like the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), Tanzania, and South Africa were feeling the same pinch as Nairobi.