Broad-based lies: Increased fuel prices expose Mbadi, Wandayi's double speak

Cabinet Secretaries John Mbadi and Opiyo Wandayi categorically stated that the government had secured sufficient stocks to protect consumers from the global energy crisis. [Elvis Ogina, Standard] Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi now find themselves under public scrutiny following the significant surge in fuel prices- a move that has cemented the Government's culture of double speak and elicited motorists fury. Just days after the duo categorically stated that the government had secured sufficient stocks and put in place mechanisms to protect consumers from the global energy crisis, Kenyans on April 15, 2026, woke up to higher pump prices, in a development that has since seen them accuse the CSs of knowingly lying to Kenyans and peddling false hope to a financially strained public. Mbadi, while appearing before the National Assembly's Finance Committee two weeks ago, moved to assure Kenyans that pump prices would not skyrocket and were expected to stay the same for at least two months. While alleviating fears of an upward review of fuel prices, he claimed that the country had enough stocks to withstand the shock. He further explained that despite a disruption of the perleum terminals in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE, where fuel products destined for Kenya are loaded, the crisis was not expected to have an immediate impact. "Notwithstanding this, pump prices may not rise in the next two months as has been speculated," he submitted before the MPs. "In light of disruption of supplies routed through the Strait of Hormuz, suppliers are loading from alternative ports, for example, in Europe and India," he added. To further prove his point, Mbadi tabled information detailing that as of March 30, the country held 138,623 metric tons of super petrol, sufficient for 16 days, 207,841 metric tons of diesel for 19 days, and 150,398 metric tons of jet fuel to last 49 days. He also spoke of policy mechanisms in place to protect consumers from volatility in global oil prices and reduce domestic pump price spikes. In the 2025/26 financial year, Mbadi said the Fuel Stabilization Fund was allocated Sh25 billion, of which approximately Sh17 billion is currently available. "Given the expected significant spike in fuel prices, this remaining balance could be used to stabilize fuel prices over three months, after which the fund would be exhausted if the conflict persists," the CS said. And on April 13, 2025, Wandayi told MPs sitting in the Energy committee that there would be no increase in fuel prices as the Government had directed the importer to withdraw all invoices and issue credit notes to the Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) who have been instructed not to take the consignment. Similarly, he said the Government has directed that the consignment should not be included in any petroleum pump price computations. "The public will not suffer any loss whatsoever from the importation of the consignment in question. If that consignment of petrol was to be factored in the computation of petroleum prices in this next cycle, that is today (Tuesday), it would have meant an increase of Sh14 per litre - if that consignment was factored but because I directed that it should not be factored in the costing of this petroleum price, the increase on that account will not be there," Wandayi explained. Asked whether there were special permits, directives or exemptions issued to facilitate the import, the CS said that a brief on the supply position was presented to the PS for consideration and approval. But even with the circumstances, the CS said that there is enough stock in the country and that show cause letters had been granted to oil marketers who have interfered with the supply by creating artificial shortage. He said it was a fact that in the wake of disruption, petroleum prices have skyrocketed globally because ships have been stuck at the Strait of Hormuz. During the meeting, the CS could not immediately respond to the actual changes of prices expected on April 14, 2026, but urged Kenyans to be patient and wait for what will be announced by EPRA, which demonstrates actions by the Government to deal with the situation. As at April 13, 2025, the PMS stocks stood at about 183,318 cubic meters, diesel at 152, 760 cubic meters and jet fuel at 113,575 cubic meters, enough to last more days, with the CS saying panic buying and hoarding by some oil companies has caused long queues in petrol stations. "There should be no cause for alarm and anyone who would want to create an artificial shortage will face the law. What you are seeing now is panic buying. It is common sense that if you are a trader of oil and you know that EPRA will announce higher prices, you will hoard and wait. This problem will end tomorrow because there will be no motivation to hoard," the CS stated. "We cannot pre-empt the pump price review, but we have agreed that the cost of this consignment will not be factored, but we are not just sitting pretty, we are taking measures." Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) acting MD, Pius Mwendwa also insisted that PMS is adequate to last another 14 days, but a vessel will discharge some more on Tuesday. "We have sufficient oil that can sustain the country for the next 14 days, and as we speak, there are more vessels in the sea bringing in more fuel, so there is no alarm over shortages, we have sufficient fuel in the country," Mwendwa said on Monday, as he accompanied Wandayi to the committee. It is these submissions by the duo that have ushered in questions on whether their official communication was designed to manage the public rather than provide transparency. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has since condemned the Government for assuring the country there is enough fuel but caught Kenyans by surprise when it increased prices. Babu said that is the clearest indication that the Government does not respect Kenyans, noting that they will not just sit and watch the oppression continue, since an increase in fuel translates to higher cost of living to an already struggling population. "The price was to be increased by Sh14 but to our surprise, they increased by Sh28 for super petrol and Sh40 for diesel. It means that even Sh14 that was adulterated would have been better because the increase would have been by Sh14. Why would the Government treat its citizens with a lot of contempt?" He posed. "We have a very dishonest regime, a government that is based on lies and can never trust on them and we want to warn Government that with this skyrocketing will be implemented, this is the right time to call for demonstrations." The Senate Energy Committee had also on Wednesday heard that the import fuel was brought into the country with extremely high prices, far above the Government-to-Government Prices. "I sat in the committee room reading emails between Oryx Energy Limited and Ministry of Energy officials, and I was shocked to discover they were all in agreement to import fuel at USD253.94 per metric tonnes while the same government they serve imports fuel at USD84.00 per metric tonnes. If Oil Marketing Companies are not taking advantage in cohorts with Ministry officials, who is fooling whom? This is an artificial getrichquick scam orchestrated by a fuel cabal!" remarked Narok Senator, Ledama Olekina. And as a consequence of the CS's actions the Energy PS Alex Wachira warned that Kenyans will now have to contend with increased electricity prices following the new fuel costs announced on April 14, 2026, by Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) in their monthly reviews, coming against the backdrop of an assurance by President William Ruto's that prices had been moderated. A day after the reviewed fuel costs were announced, with pump prices for Super Petrol and Diesel increasing by Sh28.69 per litre and Sh40.30 per litre respectively, PS Wachira told MPs that electricity charges may also marginally increase owing to the fuel component contained. Wachira had appeared before the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where he admitted that the recent increment in fuel costs would have an impact on the electricity prices. "Yes, in your bill, there's a fuel energy charge. It has always been there," he said. When asked about the expected increase in electricity cost by Mathioya MP Edwin Muyo. "Diesel is the only area we have had significant change, and because of the spread through cost across all Kenyans, the marginal costs that Kenyans are going to see on their power bills are marginal," added Wachira. Last week, President William Ruto reduced the VAT on fuel to 8 per cent, which has since seen Epra amend pump prices. Super petrol has now come down to Sh197.60 per litre and diesel to Sh196.63.

Broad-based lies: Increased fuel prices expose Mbadi, Wandayi's double speak

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