By Ongaga Ongaga
The Democratic Party of Kenya has accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of using global tensions as an excuse to avoid responsibility for the country’s escalating fuel costs and deteriorating economic situation.
In a statement, Party Leader Justin Muturi stated that the government’s fiscal mismanagement, heavy taxation, and unclear borrowing practices are the actual causes of hardship for ordinary citizens.
“Stop blaming Iran. Stop blaming the Strait of Hormuz. Blame your fiscal mismanagement,” declared the Party Leader, criticizing the administration’s habit of attributing high fuel prices to Middle East instability.
The statement revealed that Kenyans contribute KSh 25 per liter through the Road Maintenance Levy Fund, with KSh 12 per liter already allocated to infrastructure bonds and Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs).
These securitization deals have generated approximately KSh 300 billion in advance funds, but at the expense of mortgaging future taxpayer revenues.
“Ordinary citizens are repaying debts incurred through off-book borrowing that masks Kenya’s actual debt burden,” Muturi warned, noting that such practices compromise transparency and sound public finance management as required by the Constitution.
The Party also condemned the duplication of responsibilities in agencies such as KeRRA and KURA, pointing out that billions continue to pour into procurement-heavy bureaucracies while millions of Kenyans find it difficult to afford food, transportation, and essential items.
The Party Leader reminded the government that during the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency measures were implemented to protect citizens from hardship.
“The current economic emergency demands similar urgency and sacrifice from government,” Muturi stated.
The party has now demanded the immediate suspension and parliamentary examination of all fuel levy securitization arrangements, asserting that only transparent and responsible fiscal management can restore trust and alleviate the pressure on Kenyan households.