Fuel prices have reduced by less than Sh2 and Twitter is livid
By NAIROBI NEWS REPORTER
Kenyans have been left livid after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) failed to announce a huge drop in fuel prices as had been highly anticipated. ERC received backlash from dissatisfied Kenyans on Twitter after it reduced the price of super petrol by Sh1.42 per litre, diesel by Sh1.81 and kerosene Sh7.18.
“This review has now fully taken into consideration the increase in excise duty of Sh2.061 per litre on diesel which became effective on 1st December 20015. Accordingly, in Nairobi, the prices of super petrol, diesel and kerosene will be Sh88.64, Sh76.7 and Sh46.13, respectively,” ERC director general Joseph Ng’ang’a said.
But Kenyans had been bombarded with international headlines such as “crude price hits 12-year low”, which meant current fuel prices should have matched the prices of, say, diesel in 2004 which retailed at Sh54 a litre in Nairobi. As a result, majority were hoping for a double digit drop.
FUEL CARTELS
Consumer Federation of Kenya (@ConsumersKenya) led the protest, tweeting: “Dear #KOT Let’s highlight the #ERCFuelPricingScam. It is much more felt by “Wanjiku” than #Eurobond. ERC has to offer better explanation.”
Nahashon Muigai quipped: “Erc is just a front for fuel cartels to further their selfish interests” Twitter user (@akams_) added: “While a barrel of Oil is $30.5, a 60% drop, the Kes has depreciated by 14% both since Jan ’15, the you get ERC #Cartels or Mafia.”
Rodney Musalia said: “ERC another mega corruption scam organization that has to be disbanded and people sent to jail.”
Business journalist Morris Aron tweeted: “As global oil prices plummet to below $30 a barrel, ERC has this month reduced diesel and petrol prices by less than 2 bob.”
He added: “The next couple of days I will be putting you to task on pump pricing @energy_ke Something is terribly a miss. I intend to unearth it.”
