By Bonface Mulyungi
Molo Member of Parliament Kimani Kuria has publicly admitted to contributing to the decision to raise Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel to 16 per cent, despite the rising pressure against high fuel prices in the country.
Speaking during an interview at JKL on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Kuria wanted Kenyans to consider the leaders who formulated the tax policy, saying that there need not be hypocrisy among leaders who voted to increase fuel tax from 8% to 16%.
“Tujiulize, wale waliopiga kura you kuongeza ushuru wa mafuta kutoka 8% kufika 16% walikuwa wagani? Mimi sina hypocrisy; nilikuwa mmoja wao,” Kuria said.
Kimani also mentioned Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro as another prominent person who was in favour of the action at Parliament.
Kuria reports that Nyoro was one of the people who supported lifting fuel subsidies, claiming that the programme wasn’t working to reduce fuel prices among ordinary Kenyans.
“Mheshimiwa Ndindi Nyoro alikuwa wapili kupiga hiyo kura. He was among the people who voted to change VAT on fuel from 8% to 16%. Alisema mpango huu wa subsidy ya fuel haukuwa unasaidia kupunguza bei ya mafuta. Aliongoza mjadala katika bunge na kusema ya kwamba that fuel subsidy was not working for mwananchi,” Kuria added.
Kuria said that one of the individuals who voted to alter the VAT on fuel to 16 per cent was Nyoro, indicating that the legislator was at the forefront in parliamentary discussions on the matter.
He said Nyoro is also on record as saying that the fuel subsidy system was bringing no real positive changes to the people, even though it was aimed at protecting the people against the increase in international oil prices.
New fuel pricesComments from the lawmaker have come at a time when the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced a reduction in fuel prices late Wednesday following a government decision to lower the value-added tax on petroleum products, a move expected to ease pressure on consumers and businesses.
In a notice issued on the night of April 15, 2026, EPRA said the changes were made in line with a tax revision by the National Treasury.
“Pursuant to Legal Notice No. 70 dated 15th April 2026, the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury has revised the value-added tax rate from 13% to 8%,” the authority said.The regulator outlined new pump prices in Nairobi, noting that “Super Petrol, Diesel, and Kerosene now retail at Ksh197.60, Ksh196.63, and Ksh152.78.”
The updated petroleum pump price list, EPRA said, is contained in Annex I, while a detailed breakdown for Nairobi appears in Annex II.
The tax adjustment has led to a decline in the cost of petrol and diesel.“As a result, the pump price per litre in Nairobi for super petrol and diesel decreases by Ksh9.37 and Ksh10.21, respectively, while that of kerosene remains unchanged,” the notice stated.At the same time, the subsidy on kerosene has been reduced.“
Consequently, the level of subsidy on kerosene decreases from the current Ksh108.10 to Ksh96.56/litre,” EPRA said.The regulator noted that the pricing was determined under existing legal frameworks.
