The government has moved to calm fears over fuel supply, saying a new shipment is on the way and prices are expected to remain steady throughout April.
According to government spokesman Isaac Mwaura, who addressed journalists recently, the country has already secured a new shipment for April, meaning the fears are unjustified
“We have already got our shipment for April. Normally, we import eight shipments, and we have put measures in place to ensure stability. This means that there is nothing to be alarmed about,” he said.
He added that the government had no plans to increase fuel prices in the next round of price reviews.
“Right now, we have no intentions of increasing fuel prices. We will decide in April,” he said.
Also, he dismissed the idea of reintroducing fuel subsidies in the country. According to him, previous subsidies were only benefiting a few oil companies and not ordinary citizens.
Fear of fuel shortage
Despite the government’s reassuring statement, fear of shortages persists in the market. Some petrol stations have reportedly started holding back fuel, fearing possible shortages.in
The country currently has about 16 days’ supply of petrol, 19 days of diesel, and 49 days of kerosene.
Pressure is also coming from the global market. Tensions in the Middle East have disrupted supply chains and affected Kenya’s exports, including tea and meat.
Farmers are already feeling the impact, with tea exports delayed at the Port of Mombasa, leading to losses estimated at around KSh1 billion every week.
Shilling remains stable
Mwaura, however, said the Kenyan shilling has remained stable despite the global uncertainty.
Even so, the country’s foreign exchange reserves have dropped slightly. According to the Central Bank, reserves now stand at about $13.6 billion, which is enough to cover imports for about 5.8 months.
Possible tax changes
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the government is considering changes to fuel taxes to protect consumers.
For now, motorists can expect prices to remain unchanged at least for the rest of April.
