Russia’s embassy in Kenya denies claims made by State House spokesperson Kanze Dena that rising living costs are being driven by, among other factors, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
According to the Embassy’s tweet on Tuesday, the rising cost of living in Kenya and Africa is the result of ‘illegal unilateral sanctions’ imposed by the US, EU, and their followers on Russia.
“To our Kenyan friends and partners, the real cause of the rise in African prices is not Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, but the illegal unilateral “sanctions” imposed on Russia by the US, EU, and their allies,” the embassy tweeted.
Kanze Dena claimed the rising cost of living and fuel are global problems, not just Kenyan problems.
According to Dena, who spoke with Radio Kaya on Tuesday, the cost issues have been aggravated by a variety of external factors, including the raging Russia-Ukraine war.
“The rising cost of living is not unique to Kenya; it is a global phenomenon fueled by a variety of external factors, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has resulted in an increase in the global price of petroleum, which is a key factor in production,” Kanze said.
Kenyans protested the skyrocketing prices of basic food items in late February under the hashtag #lowerfoodprices.
Fuel prices, which have reached an all-time high without end in sight, are a good example.
Despite tapping a stabilization fund, Kenya raised pump prices of fuel to a 10-year high, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority reported.
In Nairobi, the price of gasoline rose by 4% to 134.72 shillings per liter on Tuesday, while diesel prices rose by 4.5% to 115.60 shillings per liter.
There has been no change in the price of kerosene, which is used for lighting and cooking.
