Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has revealed that President William Ruto instructed authorities to maintain kerosene prices, even as petrol and diesel costs increased.
Wandayi, speaking in Siaya County on Wednesday, April 15, advised Kenyans against panic, highlighting that Ruto’s administration has implemented measures to protect consumers from the latest fuel pricing adjustments.
“You witnessed the recent fuel price increase, but I assure you, there is no cause for concern,” he stated while overseeing a mass voter registration and awareness initiative in Ugunja.
According to the CS, the national leader also mandated the implementation of a Ksh6.2 billion fuel subsidy to prevent what he described as potentially much steeper increases at the pumps.
“Prices might have risen significantly more, but due to the Head of State’s subsidy directive, the increase was contained,” Wandayi explained.
He pointed out that the presidential order to keep kerosene retail prices stable was designed to safeguard low-income families that depend on kerosene for cooking and lighting purposes.
In his address, Wandayi expressed optimism that once current geopolitical conflicts resolve, fuel prices will decline.
“The President also instructed that despite higher petrol and diesel prices, kerosene should not be increased. Therefore, when the U.S./Israel-Iran conflict concludes, fuel costs will reduce,” he added.
Furthermore, the CS disclosed that the government temporarily lowered Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel from 16 percent to 13 percent for a three-month period to mitigate the broader effects of elevated pump prices.
His comments follow the latest assessment by EPRA published on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, where the regulatory body increased pump prices for Super Petrol and Diesel.
In the April to May 2026 fuel review, prices rose by Ksh28.69 and Ksh40.30 per litre, respectively, while kerosene prices remained stable.
With this adjustment, Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators have declared a substantial fare increase of at least 25 percent across all routes nationwide, with the cost of goods and other services anticipated to rise similarly.