The United Opposition has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Kenya Kwanza administration, warning of nationwide mass action if urgent reforms are not rolled out to tackle soaring fuel costs.

In a statement released Wednesday, the opposition led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accused President William Ruto’s government of overseeing what they described as one of the biggest fuel scandals in the history of independent Kenya.

The group tied the latest jump in pump prices to suspected irregularities in petroleum imports and the government-to-government procurement framework.

The coalition said it had spent weeks studying shifts in the oil sector, concluding that the energy value chain had been converted into a criminal enterprise under the current administration.

Gachagua also alleged that recent arrests of former top officials in the petroleum sector were politically driven.

The names cited included former Petroleum PS Mohamed Liban, former EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo, and former Kenya Pipeline Company Managing Director Joe Sang, with the group claiming the arrests form part of a wider cover-up.

“We state that the team leader of this oil scandal is President William Ruto, alongside Felix Koskei, the Head of Public Service, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, and a local company acting as a nominee of the international oil companies under the so-called G-to-G framework,” Gachagua said.

He went on to allege that global instability had been exploited for profit when the conflict in the Middle East escalated, including tensions involving the United States and Iran, President William Ruto saw an opportunity to profit at the expense of Kenyans.

The government has yet to respond to the specific allegations raised in the statement. The G-to-G arrangement, introduced to stabilise supply and ease dollar demand, has faced scrutiny from lawmakers and industry players in recent months over pricing and transparency.

The United Opposition said it would announce the next course of action after seven days if no reforms are made public, raising the prospect of renewed street demonstrations amid growing public frustration over the cost of living.

EPRA’s latest price review on April 15 pushed Super Petrol and Diesel to new highs, prompting matatu operators to announce immediate fare hikes and drawing criticism from across the political aisle.