Muturi Accuses Government of Using Global Crisis to Mask Domestic Economic Failures

The Democratic Party of Kenya has accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of using global tensions in the Middle East and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz to deflect blame from what it described as “homegrown” economic mismanagement behind rising fuel prices and the soaring cost of living.

In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, party leader Justin Muturi said the government was unfairly attributing the fuel crisis entirely to international oil market shocks while ignoring local fiscal policies that continue to burden Kenyans.

Muturi argued that ordinary citizens are carrying the weight of excessive taxation, opaque borrowing arrangements, and controversial securitization of public revenues linked to fuel levies.

According to the party, Kenyans are currently paying Sh25 per litre through the Road Maintenance Levy Fund, with Sh12 of that amount allegedly committed to financing infrastructure bonds and Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) that have raised nearly Sh300 billion upfront.

“This means wananchi are no longer simply paying for road maintenance. They are servicing long-term financial obligations created through off-book borrowing structures,” the statement said.

The party claimed the arrangements raise constitutional and governance concerns by effectively mortgaging future taxpayer revenues without adequate transparency or public participation.

The Democratic Party also questioned continued funding for road agencies including the Kenya Rural Roads Authority and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, saying billions continue to flow into what it termed duplicated and procurement-heavy institutions despite worsening economic hardship.

Muturi noted that urban and rural roads are largely devolved functions and argued that Members of Parliament already receive NG-CDF allocations capable of supporting local infrastructure projects.

“Instead of streamlining expenditure and cushioning struggling citizens, the government continues expanding bureaucratic road financing structures while millions of Kenyans cannot afford food, transport, or basic necessities,” he said.

The party compared the current economic situation to the COVID-19 pandemic period, arguing that the crisis requires urgent intervention measures similar to those implemented during the pandemic to shield households from economic hardship.

Among the measures proposed by the Democratic Party are the immediate suspension and parliamentary review of all fuel levy securitization arrangements, full disclosure of all infrastructure bonds and SPV agreements tied to fuel levy collections, and a 50 percent reduction in the budgets of KeRRA and KURA until the economy stabilizes.

The party also called for a comprehensive audit of pending road contracts and a shift in public spending priorities toward food security, healthcare, job creation, and direct household economic relief.

“The government cannot continue blaming foreign conflicts while ignoring its own fiscal excesses and policy failures,” Muturi said.

“You cannot tax hungry citizens into prosperity.”