Tougher times as fuel prices rise amid unga crisis
It is more pain for Kenyans as the the energy regulator increased pump prices that will take effect from Monday.
In the latest price review, the price of petrol is up by Sh1.59 a litre to Sh99.59 in Nairobi.
The price of diesel reduced marginally by Sh0.57 to Sh88.05, while that of kerosene increased by Sh0.90 to Sh65.28 in Nairobi.
The Energy Regulatory Commission, in a statement, explained that the price changes were as a consequence of changes in the average landed cost of imported fuel.
The new prices take effect from Sunday midnight till June 14 when the next price review shall be done.
Kenyans are already reeling under high food prices that have been on the rise since last year. Prices of sugar and milk have also increased significantly.
Kenya is importing maize from Mexico to curb the runaway prices that hit a record high of Sh153 for a 2kg packet, before declining to an average of Sh130 last month after the government released cheap maize from the Strategic Food Reserve.
LANDED COST
“The changes in the month’s prices have been as consequence of the average landed cost of imported super petrol increasing by 0.94 per cent from $563.62 per ton in March 2017 to $568.92 per ton in April 2017, diesel decreasing by 2.2 per cent from $504.83 per ton to 493.72 per ton and kerosene increasing by 1.93 per cent from $497.44 per to0n to 507.02 per ton,” said Mueni Mutunga, who signed the statement on behalf of ERC director-general.
Nairobi motorists will for the next one month pay Sh99.59 per litre of petrol at the pump from Sh98.
Consumers will buy the same commodity at Sh96.32 in Mombasa (cheapest location) and Sh107.84 in Wajir, which is the most expensive market for petroleum products in Kenya.
POOR HOUSEHOLDS
Kerosene, used mainly by poor households for lighting and cooking, will retail at Sh65.28 per litre in Nairobi, Sh62.52 in Mombasa and Sh73.53 in Wajir.
Diesel, which is used mainly by farmers and transporters, will retail at between Sh88.05 in Nairobi and Sh96.30 per litre in Wajir.
Petrol will retail at Sh100.32 in Nakuru, Sh101.50 in Eldoret and Sh105.57 per litre in Kisumu respectively. The fuel price increase is likely to worsen inflation that hit a 57-month high in March due to rising food prices that have pushed the rate further outside the government’s preferred ceiling.
Fuel contributes to the basket of goods that is used to calculate inflation and the increase is likely to worsen pressure on the cost of food.
