The ruling party, United Democratic Alliance, has defended the government’s handling of the ongoing fuel crisis, attributing the sharp rise in fuel prices and disruptions in the transport sector to the escalating global conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Speaking during a press briefing at the party headquarters in Nairobi on Tuesday , UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan said the government had put in place a series of interventions aimed at cushioning Kenyans from the adverse effects of rising international oil prices triggered by the geopolitical tensions.
Omar said the partial closure and disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit corridor, had destabilized international supply chains, leading to increased shipping costs, insurance premiums and freight charges.
“For context, the main components that determine the pump price include the landed cost, storage and distribution costs, taxes and levies, as well as suppliers’ margins,” he said.
He explained that the landed cost of fuel had significantly risen due to elevated global crude oil prices, increased maritime risks and longer shipping routes caused by the conflict.
According to Omar, comparisons between Kenya’s fuel prices and those of neighbouring countries were misleading because every country operates under different fiscal, economic and supply chain conditions.
“Consequently, simplistic cross-country comparisons that ignore these structural economic differences fail to provide an accurate or honest assessment of the realities influencing fuel prices in each jurisdiction,” he noted.
The UDA Secretary General defended the government-to-government (G2G) fuel importation arrangement, saying it had shielded Kenyans from even higher fuel costs.
He said the G2G framework had cushioned consumers by reducing the cost of super petrol by Sh19.51 per litre, diesel by Sh20.72 per litre and Jet A1 kerosene by Sh18 per litre compared to prevailing spot market prices.
“Under the G2G arrangement, the premium and freight costs are fixed at US$84 per metric tonne compared to the current spot market rates of over US$260 per metric tonne,” he said.
Omar further disclosed that the government had reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products from 16 per cent to eight per cent in an effort to ease the burden on consumers.
He added that over Sh16 billion had been used in the 2025/2026 financial year to stabilize fuel prices, while an additional Sh11 billion had already been applied as part of the fuel stabilization mechanism since the onset of the crisis.
“Without these interventions, fuel prices would by now have exceeded Sh300 per litre,” he said.
The party also welcomed the recent review of fuel prices by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), effective May 19 to June 14, 2026, following petitions from public transport operators.
Under the revised pricing, diesel prices dropped by Sh10.06 per litre while kerosene prices increased by Sh38.6 per litre in a move aimed at curbing fuel adulteration arising from the wide price difference between the two products.
Omar said President William Ruto had directed an inter-ministerial team comprising the ministries responsible for Treasury, Energy and Transport to urgently engage stakeholders and identify additional interventions to restore normalcy in the transport and energy sectors.
“While last evening’s consultations did not fully resolve the impasse, the engagements made meaningful progress and there remains strong optimism that an amicable and lasting solution will be reached soon,” he said.
The UDA official appealed to Kenyans to remain calm, patient and united, cautioning politicians against exploiting the crisis for political gain.
“This is not a crisis of Kenya’s making but one driven by external geopolitical developments beyond our borders,” he stated.
At the same time, Omar warned against criminal activities during demonstrations, including vandalism, looting, harassment and attacks on innocent citizens.
He said such actions would be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law.
The party also condemned the brutal killing of Ms Rachel Wandeto-Muthoni, who was allegedly attacked and set ablaze in Mwiki, Kasarani Sub-county, on May 16 over a tattoo associated with support for President Ruto.
UDA described the incident as barbaric and a reflection of growing political intolerance in the country.
“No Kenyan should ever be targeted, attacked or killed for exercising constitutionally guaranteed political rights and freedoms,” Omar said.
He accused sections of the opposition of promoting hostility, intolerance and divisive politics that could incite violence and instability.
“We equally condemn in the strongest possible terms the horrific and barbaric killing of Ms Rachel Wandeto-Muthoni,” he added.
The party conveyed condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and called for justice to be served.