Motorists’ heartache as fuel prices rise
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Sunday revised the cost of fuel upwards adding more heartache to Kenyan motorists.
The price of super petrol jumped the most by Sh2.13 per litre, while diesel and kerosene costs increased by Sh2.39 and Sh3.36 per litre respectively in the latest review.
ERC explained the move follows an increase in the landed cost of imported fuel.
Landing costs of imported petrol increased by 3.99 per cent compared to December 2017, while costs of imported diesel went up by 4.63 and kerosene by 6.36 per cent respectively.
The prices take effect starting midnight January 15 until February 14, 2018.
In Nairobi, drivers will pay Sh106.30 from Sh104.17 per litre of super petrol and Sh94.82 from the previous Sh92.44 for diesel.
They will pay Sh74.78 for kerosene.
In Mombasa, they will be charged Sh103.01 from December’s Sh100.89 for petrol and Sh91.55 from Sh89.17 for diesel, while kerosene will retail at Sh72.01.
In Kisumu, super petrol’s cost has been caped at Sh108.24, diesel at Sh96.99 and kerosene at Sh76.69.
Nakuru motorists will be charged Sh106.99 for petrol, Sh95.74 for diesel and Sh75.62 for kerosene.
According to ERC, the cost of importing kerosene went up 6.36 per cent to $616.51 per tonne and that of diesel rose by 4.63 per cent to $568.82 from 543.63 per tonne last year.
ERC director general Robert Oimeke said the rise in value of the dollar was also a factor to consider.
“The mean monthly US dollar to Kenya shilling exchange rate appreciated by 0.30 per cent from Sh103.43 per dollar in November 2017 to Sh103.12 in December.”