The Kenyan National Treasury weighed in to prevail over the earlier attempts by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to increase the pump price of fuel across the country.
In a letter by the National Treasury to the acting Director of the EPRA, the government made commitments to compensate oil marketers.
“The purpose of this letter is therefore to authorise EPRA to publish fuel prices for the period March 15 to April 14 to apply for the period April 15 to May 14,”
“Prices of super petrol, diesel and kerosene to remain unchanged for the next one month up to May 14 when next review is due,” EPRA said without giving a reason for retaining retail prices.
The cost of fuel has been on the rise in the last three months, with a litre of super petrol, diesel, and kerosene hiked by Sh8.19 per litre, Sh5.51 per litre, and Sh5.32 per litre, respectively in February.
The Consortium of Research on Governance revealed that the pandemic may have affected about 74 per cent of families in the country, seeing many struggle to afford basic needs amid harsh economic realities.
Higher crude oil prices in March and April are primarily a result of lower crude oil production from members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and partner countries, as announced at their March 4 meeting.