Mining and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary John Munyes has told Kenyans to expect fuel prices in Kenya to go up yet again in the month of April.

CS Munyes said there was very little his ministry can do, while admitting that Kenya government slaps the highest taxes and levies on petroleum in the region.

“Kenya charges the highest taxes on fuel regionally. Taxes and levies are the biggest contributors to the prices. As global oil prices escalate we expect the prices in Kenya to increase,” he told Senate’s Energy committee on Wednesday.

John Munyes. PHOTO/COURTESY

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On his part, committee member Senator Ledama Ole Kina (Narok) blamed Senators for the high taxes levied on petroleum products in the country at the detriment of the public.

“As a Senate, we have failed to regulate the taxes being charged, the Kenyan population cannot be burdened with this,” said Ole Kina.

Ledama Ole Kina. PHOTO/COURTESY

The CS, however told senators that his ministry and the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) were drafting regulations to bring into effect the Petroleum Consolidated Fund as outlined in the Petroleum Act to stabilize petroleum pricing system.

Munyes also said the government will task National Oil to store fuel bought cheaply in bulk when global prices are low to help ease the burden on consumers.

Taxes and levies account for close to half of pump prices of super petrol and is the second largest contributor to the price of Diesel and Kerosene that kept rising monthly this year.

The highest tax on the price of fuel includes Excise Duty Tax, Road Maintenance Levy and VAT.