UDA Defends Fuel Policy, Accuses Opposition of Spreading Misinformation

Kenya’s Ruling Party Dismisses Opposition Claims on Fuel Crisis, Blames Global Factors

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has forcefully rejected opposition allegations that government policies are responsible for Kenya’s ongoing fuel crisis. In a pointed rebuttal delivered Thursday, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar characterized the opposition’s claims as “misleading, politicized and disconnected from global energy realities.”

During a press conference, Omar accused opposition leaders of deliberately distorting facts about fuel pricing mechanisms. He maintained that the current spike in fuel costs stems primarily from international market conditions, particularly the conflict in the Middle East, rather than domestic policy failures.

“Let me start describing the press conference content as deceitful, amusing, given that most of the details were outright lies, laughable, and a calculated misrepresentation of facts,” Omar stated. “The government has been undertaking concerted efforts to cushion Kenyans from the effects of high prices of imported products.”

The UDA official detailed several government interventions aimed at easing pressure on consumers, including the release of 6.2 billion Kenyan shillings from the Petroleum Development Levy Fund and reducing Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel from 16 percent to eight percent. These measures, according to Omar, have helped stabilize prices at current levels of 197.60 shillings for petrol, 193.63 shillings for diesel, and 153.68 shillings for kerosene.

The government-to-government (G2G) fuel import arrangement, which has attracted criticism from opposition quarters, received a strong defense from the UDA secretary general. Omar argued that the framework has ensured steady fuel supply while reducing pressure on the US dollar and supporting Kenya’s overall economic stability. He claimed that some opposition figures now criticizing the arrangement had previously supported its introduction in 2023.

Omar addressed a recent controversy surrounding an attempted fuel import outside the G2G framework, saying the deal was halted because it was “illegal,” “more expensive,” and involved “substandard fuel.” Had the import proceeded, he claimed, petrol prices would have escalated to approximately 236 shillings and diesel to 260 shillings. “We cancelled that import to protect Kenyans,” Omar asserted.

The ruling party’s statement comes amid growing public concern over rising fuel costs in Kenya, which have contributed to broader inflation and increased living costs. Energy sector analysts note that while global factors certainly influence local fuel prices, domestic taxation and supply chain inefficiencies also play significant roles in the final consumer cost.

Kenya’s fuel pricing mechanism includes multiple taxes and levies that account for nearly 40 percent of the pump price. Critics have argued that streamlining these charges could provide immediate relief to consumers even as global prices fluctuate.

Omar dismissed opposition calls for mass action over the fuel crisis, insisting such protests were misplaced given the predominant role of global market dynamics in determining costs. He also criticized proposals to eliminate key revenue streams such as the housing levy, National Social Security Fund contributions, and infrastructure financing, arguing these would undermine national development goals.

In explaining price disparities between Kenya and neighboring countries, Omar attributed higher local fuel costs to Kenya’s classification as a middle-income economy, unlike countries such as Tanzania. This classification, he suggested, affects how international market forces interact with the local economy.

The exchange highlights the increasingly polarized political debate surrounding Kenya’s economic challenges, with the ruling party framing current difficulties as externally driven while the opposition portrays them as governance failures. Economic experts note that while global factors do impact fuel prices, government policy decisions significantly influence how these external shocks affect citizens.

As Kenya continues navigating these economic challenges, the fuel price debate underscores broader questions about energy security, taxation policy, and the government’s approach to mitigating cost-of-living pressures affecting ordinary citizens.