BY MWANAHABARI REPORTER
Kenyan motorists and boda boda riders living along Kenya – Tanzania border are increasingly crossing into the neighbouring country to buy cheap fuel.
The migration has been brought about by the fact that fuel prices in Kenyan jumped to a historical high after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) issued new guidelines with petrol now retailing at Sh134.72, Diesel at Sh115.
This represented an increase of Ksh7.58 and Ksh7.94 per litre of petrol and kerosene respectively.
Fuel prices in Tanzania, however, are relatively lower compared to the astronomical figures in Kenyans.
Reports indicated that Sirari border town registered an increase in the number of Kenyan motorists and riders crossing into Tanzania to buy cheap fuel – giving petrol stations in Kenya a wide berth.
Fuel stations in Tanzania were selling a litre of petrol at Tsh.2,300 (about Ksh.109).
There are reports that petrol stations in Tanzania that border Kenya have hiked their prices and now charge Tsh.2,800 ( Ksh.134) – as many Kenyans continued to cross. This is still cheaper than what is charged in Kenya.
Introduced to cushion motorists
EPRA withdrew fuel subsidy which had for years cushioned Kenyan from insane fuel prices.
Kenyan motorists were left foaming following the announcement made on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 – and had threatened to block the roads in protest.
The new prices are inclusive of the 8% Value Added Tax (VAT) in line with the provisions of the Finance Act 2018, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2020 and the revised rates for excise duty adjusted for inflation as per Legal Notice No. 194 of 2020.