Increasing Fuel Prices Will Make Things Worse for Kenyans – Human Rights Activist
The government has been asked to consider looking at ways that will see a reduction in fuel prices across the country.
KHISA CJ
This follows the recent move by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to announce an increase in fuel prices for the next one month.
EPRA’s announcement means the country now has a record highest cost of fuel in Kenya’s history with a liter of petrol retailing at over Ksh130.
Reacting to the latest fuel price rise, Eldoret-based Centre for Human Rights and Mediation Director Nick Omito said the move is likely to worsen the already bad economic situation for many Kenyans.
“The cost of living has been on a steep rise and Kenyans will not be able to cope with the impact of another increase in fuel prices,” Omito said.
“We are still facing the economic challenges occasioned by Covid-19 and the last thing Kenyans want to get is another extra cost,” he added.
According to the human rights activist, things are about to get even harder to a majority of Kenyans as a rise in fuel prices will directly be implicated in some of the basic things like the cost of public transport, and food.
He notes that fuel and electricity and two key things that have a direct impact on the general cost of living for a common mwananchi.
“The current situation with Covid-19 is hard, people are just trying to survive, and making transport, health, food, etc. high will be rubbing salt in Kenyans yet to be healed wounds,” said Omito who now wants the government to reduce the cost of fuel as quickly as possible.
In the fuel rise that takes effect from September 15 to October 15, 2021, prices of super petrol were increased by Ksh7.58 per liter, Kerosene by Ksh12.97 while a liter of Diesel will see a rise by Ksh7.94.
