Motorists to Pay More For Petrol

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has announced new fuel prices – and it’s not good news for Kenyan motorists.

Motorists will from midnight pay Ksh3.56 more to buy a litre of petrol at the pump in the new prices announced on Friday, May 14, 2021.

The good news is that the price of diesel and kerosene will remain unchanged at Sh107.66 and Sh97.85 per litre respectively for the same for the foreseeable future.

Kenyans have raised concern since the global cost of importing petrol decreased between March and April – and so it makes little sense why prices should shoot. 

A litre of petrol will retail at Ksh126.37 at the pump in Nairobi up from Sh122.81 for the same amount last month. Those in Mombasa will pay Sh123.95 per litre of petrol, Ksh105.27 for diesel and Sh95.46 for kerosene. Motorists in Nakuru will have to part with Ksh125.98, Ksh107.55 and Ksh97.66 for the same quantity of petrol, diesel and kerosene respectively. The product will retail at Ksh126.9 for petrol in Eldoret. 

EPRA said: “In the period under review, the price of super petrol increases by Sh3.56 per litre while that of diesel and kerosene remains unchanged.”

Adding thus: “The prices are inclusive of the 8 per cent 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.” 

The latest move will have  a drastic impact on the livelihoods of most Kenyans with Personal Service vehicles (PSVs) likely to hike fares. Manufacturing industries and electricity generating companies – both private and public are likely to reciprocate by increasing charges for power – which in return will affect the general price of electricity in the country.