Kenyans are being forced to pay some of the highest fuel prices in East Africa not because global oil prices are high, but because of the government’s endless taxes and levies, this is according to Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.
While citizens in countries like Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Rwanda are paying significantly less, the Kenyan government continues to load fuel with heavy charges that have no justification.
This is not just a matter of economics it’s a clear case of a government choosing to exploit its people instead of protecting them during hard times.
Right now, petrol in Kenya is going for around Ksh186 per liter. In Tanzania, the same litre costs about Ksh142. In Rwanda, it’s under Ksh170, and in Ethiopia, it’s below Ksh125.
These are not small differences. Kenyans are paying more than Ksh40 extra per litre compared to Tanzanians, and more than Ksh60 compared to Ethiopians. That gap can’t be explained by global oil prices alone. It is a direct result of government decisions to load fuel with taxes like the 16% VAT, excise duty, road maintenance levy, and now a new Ksh7 levy per litre.
These decisions are hurting families, businesses, and the entire economy. Ndindi Nyoro, recently admitted this during a public forum. He stated clearly that Kenya’s fuel prices are high because of what he called “exorbitant levies and taxes.” He did not blame the global market.
He pointed a finger at the government’s own policies. When even an insider acknowledges this reality, it confirms what most Kenyans already know the suffering at the pump is caused by a greedy tax system designed to squeeze every last coin from citizens.The impact of this is massive.
Transport fares have risen, goods and food are more expensive, and small businesses are struggling to stay open. Many Kenyans now have to choose between putting fuel in their car or buying food for their families.
The government continues to defend these taxes, saying they are used for development, but what kind of development forces citizens into poverty?
Countries like Ethiopia, which is landlocked and faces higher transport costs, are still able to offer fuel at lower prices. They do this by putting the needs of their people first. Kenya, on the other hand, continues to treat fuel as a cash cow, even as citizens cry out under the weight of rising costs.
