The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Fred Matiang’i has criticised the government’s handling of fuel prices, arguing that the current crisis is largely self-inflicted and linked to a lack of transparency in the Government-to-Government (G2G) fuel import deal.
Speaking in a media interview, the Jubilee presidential hopeful said he would not have entered into what he described as a vague and poorly structured agreement, noting that it has failed to bring the expected relief to Kenyans.
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Matiang’i claimed the oil sector is being influenced by powerful interests and called on the government to publicly disclose the details of the deal, insisting citizens deserve to understand how it affects fuel costs.
He also questioned why the National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK) has been left out of the arrangement, arguing that the state agency should play a central role in stabilising the market.
Rejecting claims that global tensions are solely to blame, he said part of the problem stems from how the sector is managed locally. He pointed to past global crises, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, noting that previous administrations still managed to cushion consumers despite rising global oil prices.
Matiang’i further questioned why fuel prices remain high despite reported subsidies and tax adjustments, saying the terms and markups under the G2G deal remain unclear.
He alleged the agreement has been extended to next year and warned that uncertainty still surrounds whether it will stabilise the sector.
As an alternative, he proposed strengthening NOCK’s role and reducing the influence of private interests in fuel importation and distribution.
He also criticised the government’s response to public scrutiny, accusing leaders of avoiding accountability instead of explaining the agreement to citizens or presenting it before Parliament.
