EPRA Reduces Fuel Prices For June-July

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has announced the fuel prices for the period between Thursday, June 15 and Friday, July 14.

In the latest monthly review, the price of Super Petrol and Diesel decreased by Ksh0.66 per litre and Ksh1.12 per litre, but the price of Kerosene increased by Ksh0.35 per litre respectively.

"Taking into account the weighted average cost of imported refined petroleum products, the changes in the maximum allowed petroleum pump prices in Nairobi are as follows:

"Super Petrol and Diesel decrease by Ksh0.66 per litre and Ksh1.12 per litre respectively while Kerosene increases by Ksh0.35 per litre," stated EPRA in part.

Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene will now retail at Ksh182.04, Ksh167.28 and Ksh161.48 respectively, a change from Ksh182.70, Ksh168.40 and Ksh161.13 respectively between May-June.

In Mombasa, Super Petrol will retail at Ksh179.20 per litre and Diesel at Ksh164.45 per litre. A litre of Kerosene in the coastal city will go for Ksh158.65.

A litre of Super Petrol in Nakuru will go for Ksh181.18, Diesel for Ksh166.78 per litre and the price of kerosene put at Ksh161.01 per litre. The new prices take effect at midnight, Wednesday, June 14.

During the month of May-June, the price of Kerosene was the most affected by the increase in fuel prices, recording a jump of Ksh15.19 per litre. It went from Ksh145.94 to Ksh161.13.

Super Petrol and Diesel increased by Ksh3.40 per litre and Ksh6.40 per litre respectively to retail at Ksh182.70 and Ksh168.40, up from Ksh179.3 and Ksh162 respectively.

"The prices are inclusive of the 8% Value Added Tax (VAT) in line with the provisions of the Finance Act 2018, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2020 & the revised rates for excise duty adjusted for inflation as per Legal Notice No. 194 of 2020," added EPRA.

The increase in the price of Kerosene drew widespread condemnation, most notably from Kenyan award-winning rapper Henry Ohanga, alias Octopizzo, who on Tuesday, May 16 called out President William Ruto over the high cost of the domestic fuel product.

"I'm around the ghetto and residents are complaining because of Kerosene, whose prices have increased a lot and I've not heard a single MP talk about it, that the price of Kerosene should go down.

"This is a shoutout to President Ruto, you are hurting us. We still cook with paraffin stoves in the ghetto. You can increase the petrol and diesel prices but not paraffin and the way you said you are depending on the hustlers to help us," the Noma Ni hitmaker lamented.

Octopizzo emphasised that it was crucial for President Ruto to intervene and tackle the rising cost of fuel in the country, especially for Kerosene which is even used to light up houses and assist children while doing their homework.

"Do something about it, people are in a bad place, someone can buy paraffin for lamps for lighting their houses and children use it to do their homework," he added.

Kerosene’s uses vary dramatically from fuel for oil lamps to cleaning agents, jet fuel, heating oil or fuel for cooking. It is mainly used in informal settlements in the urban areas and rural parts of Kenya to power cookstoves and lanterns.

A man fills a bottle with Kerosene in Mathare, in Nairobi, Kenya August 10, 2017. /REUTERS