State needs to put its act together on fuel crisis

A motorist fuels at Rubis gas station on Koinange Street, in Nairobi on April 15, 2026. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard]

The government's handling of the fuel crisis has been messy and uncoordinated. Ever since the global oil supply gridlock started with the US and Israel attack on Iran, nations around the world took proactive measures to shield their citizens from the fallout of the crisis, cutting taxes and even reducing the work week to reduce travel and manage their fuel stocks. Kenya's actions, on the other hand, have left many questions unanswered.

First was the government's unconvincing reassurance that the country had enough fuel. Officials provided conflicting information on the actual stock available, with statements from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum indicating that the market could weather the storm until new cargo arrived. But this soon began to unravel as parts of the country ran out of fuel, while some dealers raised their prices above the guidelines set by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority.