Mbadi says Ruto to chair high-level fuel price meeting after Azerbaijan trip

President William Ruto will chair a high-level meeting on fuel prices after return from an official visit to Azerbaijan.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the government is considering fresh measures to cushion Kenyans from the impact of rising fuel prices.

“We can only hope that this war will end, but even as we hope, we must make certain decisions. I am sure the government will sit again once the President returns to assess what more can be done,” Mbadi said.

“If we were to leave the prices without any intervention, diesel today would be costing not less than Sh35 more, and petrol would be costing over Sh70 more.”

He further said the matatu strike was uncalled for.

“In my view, the matatu strike is completely uncalled for, even though the prices of fuel have gone up. My concern is that we are trying to solve a global problem by applying domestic means, which is not appropriate,” he said.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has called for summoning of Parliamentary sessions to discuss the issue.

Mbadi’s remarks came even after thousands of Kenyans were on Monday morning forced to walk to various destinations after a nationwide matatu strike paralysed public transport across major towns and cities, with operators protesting the sharp rise in fuel prices announced last week.

The disruption, which began at midnight on Sunday, saw most matatus remain parked in depots and residential areas as transport operators, private motorists and ride-hailing drivers joined what organisers described as “the mother of all strikes” in Kenya’s transport sector history.

The National Police Service moved to assure the public of safety and order, warning against disruption and unlawful conduct during the demonstrations.

NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, the police said security measures had been enhanced across the country following reports of the planned strike.

The strike follows the latest fuel price review announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority on May 14.

Under the new review, the price of Super Petrol increased by Sh16.65 per litre while Diesel rose by Sh46.29 per litre. Kerosene prices remained unchanged.

Following the adjustments, Super Petrol in Nairobi now retails at Sh214.25 per litre, Diesel at Sh242.92 and Kerosene at Sh152.78 until June 14.

Motorists and transport operators have termed the increases excessive and unreasonable, arguing that Kenya’s fuel prices remain significantly higher than those in some neighbouring and landlocked countries despite fuel imports entering the region through the Port of Mombasa.

The rise of the cost of fuel has also spiked the cost of living at large.