Good morning,
For the past few months, Kenyans who consume petrol have dreaded every midmonth as it is when the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority(EPRA) usually adjust the prices of fuel in the country.
Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country in March 2020 an upward trajectory of fuel prices has been observed. However, no situation whatsoever prepared Kenyans for the historic high petrol prices.
On Tuesday the regulatory authority increased the fuel prices by at least Ksh 7 which left Kenyans angered and displeased. As if to add insults to an injury, kerosene a commodity for the majority of low-income income homes was increased by Ksh 12.
The increment, therefore, means super petrol will now retail at Ksh 134.72 in Nairobi and Ksh 142.57 in Marsabit, the highest in the country while diesel and kerosene will now retail at 115.60 and 110.82 respectively.
What do the new prices now signify?
The cost of living in the country is expected to go high as manufactured goods in the country are also expected to factor in the high cost of fuel.
Also, since a majority of Kenyans rely on kerosene and gas for lighting and cooking the price of crude oil will be a key determinant of the rate of inflation in the country.
One Twitter user was pressed for an answer on the decision to increase the prices of fuel by EPRA asking them, ” explain why the same fuel in Uganda and Tanzania is cheaper than ours?”
Do you think the decision by EPRA to increase the fuel prices to a historic high was justified?
Meanwhile here are the stories making headlines on Opera News Today:
Revealed: Top contenders for Raila, Ruto running mates
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s vote-rich Mt Kenya backyard has become the hunting ground for running mates among bigwigs gunning for the presidency.
The Star has established nearly all leading presidential candidates, including ODM leader Raila Odinga, are considering picking a running mate from the Mt Kenya region.
Raila’s move appears to dash any chances of a working deal with his former Nasa co-principals who pledge to go all the way to the ballot.
Brace Yourselves For Two Deputy Presidents As MPs Move With Speed To Propose a New ‘BBI’ Bill
The infamous constitution amendment bill 2020 suffered a permanent blow after the court of appeal upheld the High Court ruling on the illegitimacy of the amendments.
The courts established that the BBI steering committee was unconstitutional and that nothing legitimate can come out of it. They also ruled that the President cannot initiate a constitution-making process under the current constitution thus making the entire process null and void.
There have been suggestions that the BBI Proponents could try to pass some of the proposals through parliament.
It has now emerged that a group of Parliamentarians led by Ndaragwa Mp Jeremiah Kioni are drafting a new amendment bill that they intend to use to change the constitution. According to a report by a local daily, the MPs are proposing the formation of the position of a prime minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and two Deputy Presidents.
Martha Karua Comments on Ruto-Uhuru Governance as She Reveals she is Ready to Work with Anyone
Martha Karua has dismissed resignation calls directed to Deputy President William Ruto by his boss President Uhuru Kenyatta, with support from the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and their allies.
The Narc Kenya party leader speaking with Citizen TV yesterday argued that the president would have chosen someone else as his running mate in 2017 if indeed he was unhappy with his deputy during their first term.
“If the president was uncomfortable with him deputy during the first term, he could have dropped him, he did not. They campaigned together in 2017. It is his choice, let him live with it,” said Karua.
Ruto has in several instances reiterated his earlier sentiments that he was not going to resign, as such a move would be a betrayal to millions of Kenyans who voted for the joint ticket alongside the president in 2017.
He however stated that when time is ripe, he will ditch the Jubilee party for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) which has already gained momentum across the country, noting that he will use it as his presidential vehicle come 2022.