Kiharu Member of Parliament, Ndindi Nyoro, has openly criticised the Kenyan government for the continued rise in fuel prices across the country. He blamed the high pump prices not on global issues as claimed by government officials, but on heavy domestic taxation and what he described as hidden borrowing by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Speaking to journalists in Nairobi on Tuesday, Hon. Nyoro said that Kenyans are suffering needlessly at the fuel stations because of excessive taxes being placed on petroleum products. He challenged the Ministry of Energy’s recent explanation that global oil prices were behind the latest fuel price hike, describing it as misleading and untrue.
According to the lawmaker, global crude oil prices actually went up last year, not in the current year. He insisted that it is false to continue blaming external factors for the problem, while ignoring what he said were deliberate policy decisions at home causing the hardship. “Global oil prices peaked last year, not this year. It is clear that the government is using false narratives to justify high pump prices,” Nyoro declared.
He revealed that over Sh80 from every litre of petrol and Sh76 from other fuels are being collected through various taxes and levies imposed by the government. These multiple charges, he argued, are the real reason why fuel is becoming unaffordable for the average Kenyan citizen.
Ndindi Nyoro, who is also an economist, said the Kenya Kwanza government introduced a secret Sh7 per litre fuel levy in 2023 without public announcement, even at a time when global oil prices were going down. He explained that instead of passing on the savings to the people, the government continued to increase prices through taxation.
He further alleged that the administration used the same fuel levy as collateral to secretly borrow Sh175 billion without parliamentary knowledge or approval. According to him, this borrowing was not captured in the country’s official debt records and did not follow the legal process of seeking Parliament’s consent. “This borrowing is not reflected in official debt records, and Parliament was never consulted. This raises serious concerns about transparency, legality, and the long-term sustainability of public finances,” the MP said.
Ndindi Nyoro questioned who the real lenders behind the Sh175 billion borrowing were, what interest terms were agreed upon, and what the long-term impact of this borrowing would be on Kenya’s economic future. He said that such moves without openness are dangerous and could harm the country’s financial health.
The outspoken legislator warned that if the borrowing continues without accountability, Kenya might fall deeper into debt, with the burden falling on ordinary citizens through more taxes and higher prices. He called on Parliament to demand full disclosure from the government and to play its oversight role to protect public interest.
The rising cost of fuel has become a serious concern for many Kenyans in recent months. It has affected transportation, the cost of food, and prices of goods and services across the country. Businesses are also complaining about high operating costs due to the increased cost of diesel and petrol.
Economists say that if the government does not find ways to reduce fuel prices, inflation may rise again and further weaken the purchasing power of citizens. Transport unions and civil society organisations have also called for a review of fuel taxation policies and urged the government to act quickly to reduce the burden on the people.
Ndindi Nyoro’s criticism is coming at a time when more lawmakers and political leaders are expressing dissatisfaction with some of the Kenya Kwanza government’s economic decisions. Some have accused the administration of ignoring the voices of ordinary people while pushing policies that favour elites and foreign lenders.
The government, on its part, has maintained that the fuel prices are a result of market conditions and necessary taxes needed to fund key development projects. However, calls for more transparency and accountability continue to grow louder.
