Speaking after a lengthy consultative meeting, tourism stakeholder Kennedy Kaunda expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the discussions, revealing that transport operators had pushed for a significant reduction in fuel prices but were instead offered a much smaller adjustment based on calculations by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
“With all due respect, I want to be very honest with you. We had a meeting for five hours, and the issue was fuel increment.
We wanted the fuel to be cut by Sh46, but they gave us Sh8 based on the EPRA calculation, which as the transport sector did not agree with,” he said.
His remarks came shortly after disagreements emerged between stakeholders and Opiyo Wandayi over the government’s position on fuel pricing and the proposed interventions aimed at easing pressure on consumers.
The disagreement highlights growing frustration among transport operators and businesses affected by the rising cost of fuel, which has triggered protests and disruptions in different parts of the country in recent days.
Stakeholders argued that the proposed reduction was insufficient to address the economic burden currently facing the transport industry, warning that high fuel prices continue to increase operational costs for matatus, taxis, tour operators, and cargo transporters.
According to those who attended the meeting, industry representatives had hoped the government would introduce a more substantial reduction to cushion Kenyans from the rising cost of living and stabilise transport charges across the country.
Transport operators maintained that fuel prices directly affect nearly every sector of the economy, including food distribution, tourism, manufacturing, and public transport.
They warned that failure to implement meaningful reductions could continue to trigger unrest and dissatisfaction among wananchi already struggling with high living costs.
The meeting reportedly lasted for nearly five hours as government officials and sector representatives attempted to find common ground on the contentious issue.