In a dramatic policy turn, after two days of violent nationwide protests and a crippling transport sector shutdown, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has lopped off the diesel price by Ksh10.06 per liter, kind of as an emergency measure that feels late but is also immediate.
The emergency addendum, released late Monday and kicking in right away, came after close discussions between the government and public transport operators. The strike, where matatu operators pulled out services across key urban centers, left thousands of commuters stranded, and it also triggered heavy losses in life and property during heated clashes.
Under the new pricing plan, valid until June 14, 2026, a liter of diesel in Nairobi will now go for Ksh232.86. While the reduction gives thin, almost symbolic relief to transporters dealing with expensive operating expenses, the government’s step has hit households hard in real terms. EPRA also lifted kerosene by a staggering Ksh38.60, which in practice shifts the fiscal burden. Super petrol stayed flat at Ksh214.25 per liter.
The regulator said it had to act, pointing at fuel adulteration that’s been growing, partly because of the wide gap between diesel and kerosene prices. Still, the adjustment has been received with serious doubt from stakeholders, who call it a “transfer of suffering” and not a durable economic cure. Even with the revised figures out there, tensions are still running hot.
Transport sector leaders have voiced anger, saying the Ksh10 drop is too small to cover the losses tied to rising operational overhead, so they’re unconvinced. With the country still processing the aftermath of the protests and fare adjustments looming, the real impact of this emergency intervention remains questionable.
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