A section of Kenyans online has challenged remarks by Martha Karua comparing current fuel prices to those witnessed during the Moi era, with many arguing that the present crisis is being driven by worldwide oil market disruptions beyond Kenya’s control.
Karua sparked online debate after posting an image from June 1997 alongside comments suggesting that Kenya remained stuck in the same economic struggles nearly three decades later.
Her remarks followed the latest fuel price adjustments announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), which saw Super Petrol prices increase by KSh16.65 per litre and Diesel rise sharply by KSh46.29 per litre.
The latest review pushed the Nairobi retail price of Super Petrol to KSh214.25 per litre, while Diesel rose to KSh242.92.
Karua contrasted the current prices with those of 1997, when Super Petrol averaged KSh34.55, Diesel KSh27.30, and Kerosene KSh20.85 per litre.
However, many Kenyans online questioned why her comparison focused only on the Moi era and the current administration while leaving out the governments of former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, periods that also experienced fluctuating global fuel prices and economic pressures.
Some users argued that comparing pump prices nearly three decades apart without factoring in global oil dynamics, inflation, exchange rate shifts and international conflicts created a misleading picture of the current situation.
But even as Kenyans acknowledged the burden of rising fuel costs, many online users pointed to the government’s detailed explanation showing that the latest increases stem largely from global geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions.
In a statement explaining the latest review, the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East had caused sustained volatility in international oil markets.
The government explained that the average landed cost of imported Super Petrol rose from USD 823.27 per cubic metre to USD 906.23, while Diesel increased from USD 1,073.82 to USD 1,291.98 per cubic metre within one pricing cycle.
Officials noted that global freight charges, insurance premiums and cargo costs have surged sharply due to instability around the Strait of Hormuz, affecting oil-importing economies worldwide.
To cushion consumers, the government revealed that approximately KSh5 billion had been used under the Petroleum Development Levy stabilisation programme to moderate fuel price increases.
Authorities also cited the reduction of VAT on petroleum products from 16 per cent to 8 per cent and the continued Government-to-Government fuel import arrangement as part of ongoing mitigation efforts.
While Karua framed the fuel hikes as evidence of recurring governance failures, the government maintains that the latest spike reflects broader international market pressures currently affecting countries across the globe, not Kenya alone.
