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Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has criticized the government’s recent Sh10 reduction in diesel prices, saying the move is inadequate and will not provide meaningful relief to Kenyans struggling with the high cost of living.
He called for significant reductions in fuel taxes and levies to lower pump prices to below Sh200 per litre.
Speaking at a church service in Kanduyi, Bungoma County, alongside former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and other opposition leaders, Kalonzo argued that the latest adjustment would have little impact on households and businesses burdened by rising expenses.
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His comments came shortly after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced a Sh10 reduction in diesel prices, bringing the Nairobi pump price down to Sh222.86 per litre. Petrol prices also dropped slightly by 22 cents to Sh214.03 per litre.
The price review followed the government’s decision to utilize approximately Sh10 billion from the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) Fund to cushion consumers against increasing global oil prices.
Despite the intervention, Kalonzo maintained that the reduction falls short of what citizens require.
“They have only reduced fuel prices by Sh10,” he said, adding that the opposition believes fuel should retail at around Sh170 per litre. According to him, the current adjustment still leaves consumers paying more than Sh220 per litre.
Kalonzo warned that persistently high fuel prices would continue to increase transportation costs, push up food prices, and worsen the overall cost of living unless broader reforms are implemented.
He accused the government of relying on temporary measures rather than addressing what he termed excessive taxation within the fuel pricing structure.
“The cost of living will keep rising if fuel prices remain this high,” he stated.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto has defended the government’s intervention, saying the subsidy programme has helped protect the country from fuel shortages and sharp price increases caused by tensions in the Middle East and rising global crude oil prices.
According to the President, while some neighbouring countries experienced fuel shortages and long queues at filling stations, Kenya has maintained a stable supply through strategic government measures.
The opposition, however, insists that long-term relief can only be achieved through comprehensive reforms in fuel taxation and broader economic policies.
Beyond economic concerns, Kalonzo also condemned increasing cases of political intolerance and the disruption of public meetings by violent groups. He pointed to recent incidents affecting civic and religious gatherings, including the interruption of a post-budget dialogue at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi.
He urged security agencies to protect democratic freedoms and affirmed that the opposition coalition would continue engaging citizens across the country as it prepares for the 2027 General Election.
