Relief for Kenyans as fuel prices drop in latest Epra review

More relief came on Sunday when the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) announced that the prices of super petrol, diesel and kerosene had all declined. 

In its announcement of fuel prices for the period January 15 - February 14, Epra said a litre of both super petrol and diesel would cost Sh5 less while a litre of kerosene would cost Sh4.82 less. 

Motorists in Nairobi will part with Sh207.36 for a litre of super petrol, Sh196.47 for a litre of diesel and Sh194.23 for a litre of kerosene. 

In Kisumu, they will pay Sh207.12 for a litre of super petrol, Sh196.64 for diesel and Sh194.42 or kerosene, while their counterparts in Mombasa will pay Sh204.3, Sh193.41 and Sh191.05, respectively. 

For Nakuru, the three products will cost Sh206.35, Sh195.88 and Sh193.66, respectvely, while in Eldoret they will cost Sh207.12, sh196.65 and Sh194.43, respectively.

Epra explained that the drop in prices was the result of a decline in the average landed costs of importing the three products. Super petrol’s cost dropped 2.4 % per cubic metre, from $699.44 last November to $677.78 in December.

For diesel, this cost decreased 9.06%, from $826.01 to $751.15 while for kerosene it fell 4.33%, from $759.93 to $727. 

Fuel prices were previosuly on a steady rise, worrying private motorists, public transporters and commuters.

In an address last November, however, President William Ruto promised the public a decline in the coming months, saying his administration had taken steps to bring them some relief. He cited agreements with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), that he said would ensure the adequate supply of fuel to Kenya.

The prices initially dropped in December, by sh5 per litre of super petrol, Sh2 per litre of diesel and Sh4.01 per litre of kerosene.

That month, politician Raila Odinga, leader of the Azimio coalition, asked the government to drop fuel prices by Sh50, citing a drop in global oil prices as well as the need to ensure a lower cost of living.

"We are well aware that oil prices in the global markets have significantly decreased. Therefore, we demand an immediate reduction in the local prices, not just a Sh5 reduction to deceive Kenyans, but a reduction ranging from Sh48 to Sh50," he said.