Presidential hopeful Jimi Wanjigi has called on Parliament to repeal the Energy Act, 2019 to ease fuel prices burden.
He said the section gave the Energy and Petroleum Regulation Authority absolute powers to determine fuel and electricity cost while abandoning the free trade Kenyans enjoyed under President Mwai Kibaki’s regime.
Wanjigi noted that the Act should be removed because it has definitely distorted the market.
"It is completely unacceptable and since we know the cause of the problem, the MPs should remove or suspend that law instead of telling many stories to Kenyans," he said.
While drumming up support for his presidential bid in Kisumu on Sunday, Wanjigi told legislators to stop shedding crocodile tears even as he blamed them for agreeing to amend Regulation of Section 10 of the Energy Act, 2019.
"Let them not take us round and round with non-beneficial issues. Bring back the free market or be ready to be wiped out in next year's general elections," he said.
The ODM presidential contender added, "It is a pain for each of us citizens. We are not going to keep enduring this pain."
Wanjigi said the price hike was caused by an Act passed in Parliament which gave EPRA sweeping powers to change prices of petrol and power in the country.
"My serious concern is that the Bill went through without dissent. They are fully responsible for the high cost of living that Kenyans are going through," Wanjigi said.
He added that legislators are fully responsible for the discomfort hurting Kenyans.
In April 2013, Wanjigi said the price per barrel of oil was $112 with price in Kenya being Sh 117. And in 2017, the price per barrel was at $55 with price pump costing Sh99 in Kenya.
Today, he noted that the oil price per barrel stands at $65 with pump price going at Sh135.
Currently, in Kisumu, Bungoma and Busia counties, the pump price is Sh 140 while across the border, in Uganda, it goes for Sh 110.
He called on Kenyans to adopt his economic revolution by voting out the current leaders to help save the nation.
"They cannot continuously cause us pain. Let's wipe them out by registering as voters in large numbers," Wanjigi said.
He pointed out that food basket in Kenya stands at 50 percent on average of household income which is the second highest in the world after Nigeria.
“This increase may take Kenya to position one in the world. We have people calculating it," the politician said.
Wanjigi continued with his onslaught against President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration over the exorbitant increase of fuel prices in the country.
Uhuru’s administration, he said, has lost the legitimacy to govern the country on account of the high cost of living occasioned by skyrocketing fuel prices.
Last week, EPRA announced new fuel charges that saw a litre of super petrol retailing at Sh 134.72, Sh 115.82 for diesel and Sh 110.82 for kerosene.
The prices increased with Sh 7.58, Sh 7.94 and Sh 12.97 for super petrol, diesel and kerosene respectively.
Wanjigi said that it was disheartening for the government to increase the price of fuel when the country is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic.
EPRA, however, said the increased fuel prices were due to a higher cost of landing petroleum products.
Wanjigi said Kenyans were concerned that the fuel prices hike will lead to an increase of food prices in the country.
“It is regrettable that almost 50 percent of earnings by majority Kenyans is spent on food basket.”
Meanwhile, he thanked Nyanza residents for a wonderful reception during the four-day tour in Kisumu, Migori, Kisii and Siaya counties.
"I am very happy with the people for the warm welcome. The incident in Migori was just for a few cheeky characters and does not represent the mood of the entire region," Wanjigi stated.
He pledged to tour Migori county soon.
Wanjigi also plans to tour Mombasa, Kilifi and Kajiado counties to popularise his bid and ODM party.
edited by Amol Awuor
