By Bonface Mulyungi
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has warned against the planned protest on the fuel prices as he sought to exonerate the government from any blame.
Kindiki said protests can not provide any mitigation measures against the high fuel prices, but sound policies and interventions can.
“The solution to this crisis is not staging protests. Even if you hold protests and go home in the evening, the price will remain the same,” he said, recalling a similar Unga demonstration in 2023.
He added, “The cost of Unga came down following state interventions. Even if you demonstrate that the price cannot change. The solution is in policy interventions by the government of Kenya to make the prices stable and reasonable for the people of Kenya.”
Speaking on Saturday at his residence in Irunduni while addressing 2,500 residents from Chuka Igambang’ombe, Kindiki attributed the recent surge in fuel costs to external geopolitical tensions rather than domestic policy failures.
According to the DP, the ongoing conflict between the US/Israel on one side and Iran on the other side is the primary driver of global oil price volatility, dismissing claims that the situation is locally driven.
“The recent escalation of oil prices is a result of the US/Israel-Iran conflict. Those calling for oil protests should understand that demonstrations will not bring prices down,” he said.
DP Kindiki used the occasion to reassure the public that the government is actively working to prevent the situation from escalating into a broader economic crisis.
“I am confident that the current pressure on oil prices will not destabilise our economy. We ask Kenyans to be patient as we address the issue,” the country’s second in command said.He noted that the government has already taken steps to ease the burden on Kenyans, including reducing VAT on fuel from 16 per cent to eight per cent, a move that led to a reduction of fuel prices by Sh10 per litre.
Kindiki’s statement comes just days after the United Opposition piled pressure on the government to address the rising cost of fuel.
On Saturday, Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua gave President William Ruto a seven-day ultimatum to reduce fuel prices; failure to which there will be nationwide protests.“He said that he would put money in people’s pockets; instead, he took the little that was there. He increased the price of petrol. We are giving you seven days to remove that 30 shillings on fuel; if you don’t, we will shut down this country,” Gachagua claimed during a rally in Dagoretti, Nairobi county.
