Kenya’s new Treasury Cabinet Secretary, John Mbadi, is facing mounting public pressure after attributing the recent spike in fuel prices to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. In a strongly worded open letter, concerned citizens have called out the government’s tendency to blame external events while failing to address longstanding internal economic mismanagement.
CS Mbadi, who recently dismissed alternative views by former Budget Committee Chair Ndindi Nyoro, has come under fire for what many see as a deflection of responsibility. “Are we the only country affected by global conflicts?” the letter questions, urging the government to stop treating foreign wars as a “permanent crutch for domestic failure.”
While acknowledging that Middle East conflicts often disrupt global fuel supply chains, the open letter insists that Kenya’s persistent fuel woes cannot be pinned solely on external factors. It contrasts Kenya’s situation with other nations, including oil-importing neighbors like Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda, who have managed to offer better price stability through subsidies, strategic reserves, and smarter procurement strategies.
The letter also revives public concerns about opaque oil import deals with Gulf nations that reportedly bypassed competitive tendering processes, fueling suspicions of inefficiency or corruption. Kenyans, already burdened by a volatile shilling, heavy taxation, high debt repayment, and monthly fuel price reviews by EPRA, are questioning the effectiveness of President Ruto’s much-touted Economic Recovery Plan.
“If this is really about Israel and Iran, why is fuel cheaper in landlocked Rwanda than in Mombasa?” the letter asks. “Where are the mitigation strategies, the leadership to shield the citizen?”
The commentary criticizes the government’s contradictory policies, such as launching youth empowerment programs only to see them undermined by skyrocketing fuel costs, and accuses leaders of engaging in political theatrics rather than governance.
“Kenyans are not foolish,” the letter states. “We want relief, not excuses. Leadership, not gaslighting.”
The message to CS Mbadi and his colleagues is clear: Kenyans are demanding proactive solutions, not reactive blame. As frustrations over the cost of living intensify, the public is calling for real action to stabilize fuel prices and ease economic pressure on households and small businesses alike.
“The time for stories is over,” the letter concludes. “Start giving us results.”
Written By Rodney Mbua
