Kenyan consumers will continue crying at the pump after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) hiked fuel prices significantly yet again in its monthly review.
In its latest review, the prices of super petrol, diesel and kerosene have all been hiked, leaving many Kenyans lamenting on whose interests the energy regulator now serves.
In its statement on Sunday, Epra acting Director General Daniel Bargoria hiked the costs of super petrol, diesel and kerosene by Sh7.63, Sh5.75 and Sh5.41 per litre respectively.
In Nairobi, the new EPRA prices will see a litre of super petrol retail at the pump for Sh122.81, diesel at Sh107.66 and Kerosene at Sh97.85 for the next one month.
In Mombasa, petrol, diesel and kerosene will retail at Sh120.41, Sh105.27 and Sh95.46 respectively.
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In Kisumu, those visiting the pumps will have to part with Sh123.36, Sh108.46 and Sh98.68, respectively for petrol, diesel and kerosene.
In Nakuru, motorists and other fuel consumers will cough Sh122.44 for a litre of super petrol, Sh107.55 for a litre of diesel and Sh97.76 for a litre of kerosene.
In Eldoret, a litre of super petrol will cost Sh123.36, diesel Sh108.46 and kerosene Sh98.68.
Epra blamed the immoral price hikes on an increase in average landed cost of fuel products, coming as Kenyans already battle high food prices emanating from the last price review.
According to the energy regulator, the cost of imported super petrol rose from $391.24 per cubic metre in January to $449.82 in February.
Diesel cost rose from $ 377.55 to $423.95 per cubic metre, while the cost of Kerosene imported increased from $347.19 to $393.23 per cubic metre.
Bargoria added, “Over the same period, the mean monthly US dollar to Kenya shilling exchange rate appreciated by 0.20 per cent, from Sh109.89 per dollar in January, to Sh109.67 per dollar in February.”
The significant increase in the price of petroleum products in March will see the price of commodities and transport also go up, resulting in more pain for majority of motorists and consumers.
The new prices announced by EPRA on Sunday take effect from midnight Monday and will remain in place until the next review by the regulator on April 14.
In last month's review, the prices at the pump for super petrol, diesel and kerosene increased by Sh8.19, Sh5.51 and Sh5.32 per litre respectively, even as fuel remans one of the most taxed commodity by the government in its appetite for taxes not well utilised.
The review has been met with anger and disgust by Kenyan consumers:
Govt trying to milk a dead cow! This is nothing but diabolic. https://t.co/hTdiEOEmKj
— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) March 14, 2021
