• Passengers and vehicle owners complained of being late for their daily routines.
• Major players in the oil sector are said to be still hoarding new stocks, anticipating a price increase in this week’s monthly price review.
Image: JOHN CHESOLI
The ongoing fuel crisis that hit Kenya three weeks ago has been met with mixed reactions from the citizens and leaders.
Citizens have continued to question why fuel supply had not returned to normalcy even after the government announced that it had paid subsidy arrears to oil marketers.
I thought President Uhuru Kenyatta last week signed the subsidy money that was owed to oil markers. 🤷
— Chris Adede🇰🇪 (@CAdede) April 12, 2022
How comes we're still experiencing fuel shortage in this country?
Or is it a ploy by the oil marketers to hoard fuel in anticipation of a impending increase in pump prices? 🤔
Kwani this fuliza government hasnt paid those oil marketing companies or why hasn't fuel supply returned to the "normal" promised last Thursday? This is not the Kenya we have known. So much gone so wrong.
— David Makali (@davidmakali1) April 11, 2022
The Star affirmed that in the larger Nyanza area only a single station has fuel between Siaya town and Kisumu City.
This has forced motorists to travel as far as Eldoret in search of the commodity.
Passengers and vehicle owners complained of being late in their daily routines after queueing for hours at the stations.
Last night, we got stuck on Nairobi Road over 2hrs to place where it takes 10mins or less from CBD to Nyamasaria caused by long-queues in gas stations affecting the major Hwy in Kisumu & still there was no fuel & if you get it, will cost you sh. 300/1L of petrol #FuelShortageKE pic.twitter.com/VXZEua7tXj
— Esther Min Amor (@EstherMinAmor) April 12, 2022
07:01 The amount of man hours lost cause of fuel shortage is embarrassing.
— Ma3Route (@Ma3Route) April 12, 2022
Kenya must invest in a subway system especially for Nairobi to facilitate eased movement of labour.@TransportKE . via @EddieKago
Kenyans loosing productive hours queuing for fuel. The economy is suffering. It has a long ripple effect. #FuelShortageKE
— The Common Man (@Commonmundu) April 12, 2022
Narok County Senator Ledama Ole Kina, reiterated that the crisis is global and it should not be taken to create political division.
"The fuel crisis is a global crisis, not a Kenya one," he tweeted.
Major players in the oil sector are said to be hoarding new stocks, anticipating a price increase in this week’s monthly price review.
There also have been claims that the oil marketers are hoarding fuels awaiting the upcoming Easter holiday, despite officials warning of dire consequences to the hoarders.
Come 14/04/22 you’ll notice how fuel will “miraculously reappear”. Chill uone
— 12:22:2✨ (@Shakkeela__) April 12, 2022
So on Thursday we should have fuel all over but at a ridiculous price , got to love Kenya
— .🇯🇲 (@kiarie_kangonga) April 12, 2022
The ongoing fuel shortage was anticipated to end last week when President Uhuru Kenyatta cleared Sh34 billion payments to oil marketers for their subsidy arrears.
State Department of Petroleum PS Andrew Kamau last week said investigations into the shortage were being finalized, setting the stage for financial penalties and licence withdrawals.
Independent dealers said they are yet to access the petroleum products as major players ration the little stock they have for their own franchisees.
Reading the budget, Treasury CS Ukur Yatani promised that the government will continue to cushion consumers till the end of June.
He spared a 10 per cent excise duty hike on petroleum products in his 2022/23 budget plan.