ODM party leader Oburu Oginga has assured Kenyans that efforts are being made to ease the burden caused by the rising cost of fuel, even as concerns grow over the impact of the latest price increases on households and businesses across the country.
Speaking on Sunday in Kisumu during a meeting with ODM grassroots leaders from the Nyanza region, Oburu said the increase in global fuel prices had been influenced by international conflicts and political tensions, which he noted were affecting economies across the world.
“Things are not okay; you can see fuel prices are high all over. It started when Trump moved against Venezuela, and then there was the attack on Iran. These are the reasons prices have hiked across the world,” Oburu told the gathering.
The ODM leader, however, said the current situation would not last forever and revealed plans to engage President William Ruto and National Treasury CS John Mbadi on possible measures to reduce the pressure on consumers.
“This will not last. I am speaking to Mbadi here and to Ruto to see how things can be normalized and some taxes removed,” he said.
Oburu’s remarks come amid growing public anger over the latest fuel review announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), which saw diesel and petrol prices rise sharply for the May-June pricing cycle.
The increase has already triggered concerns within the transport sector, with operators warning of demonstrations on Monday over the high fuel costs. Some operators have also indicated that transport fares could rise by up to 50 percent if the situation remains unchanged.
Industry players say the fuel hikes are likely to push up the cost of transport, food and other basic commodities, adding more pressure on Kenyans already grappling with the high cost of living.
