Globally, the price of crude oil has dropped to an 18-year-low of more than 30 percent. Most countries, especially in the Western World have adjusted their fuel prices to benefit more people.
In Kenya, it is the opposite. As prices globally fall, it rises in Kenya. When the price of crude oil dropped by 30 percent, Kenyan authorities reduced the price of fuel by less than 2 percent.
Among the things that Kenyans expected would drop in prices as a result of dropping global prices was the price of refilling gas cylinders. Ironically, the prices increased between 30 and 40 percent and retailers say it is set to rise “again”.
Currently, the price of refilling a 6-kilogram gas cylinder is retailing between 1,000 and 1,200 shillings. The price of refilling a 13-kilogram gas cylinder has gone up to retail between 2,000 and 2,500 shillings. This is 30 to 40 percent more than the price that customers used to pay less than two months ago.
There is a Tax Amendment Bill that was supposed to be tabled in parliament during the month of April. The Bill, among other things, has reintroduced 14 percent Value Added Tax on the refilling of gas cylinders. If the Bill sails through, which it will, the price of refilling gas cylinders will go up by a further 300 or 450 shillings.
Although the government says it is working towards making lives easier for Kenyans during this Covid-19 period, deep within it seems determined to take every single coin that Kenyans might be making during this period.
With the changes set to be put in place by the government, Kenyans are going to pay high prices for fuel, gas, bread, homes, land, electricity and other essential commodities.
“This government is giving us two cents using the left hand and looting 100 cents from using the right hand,” says one of the seemingly tired Kenyans.
Do you think the government is doing enough to cushion Kenyans?
READ: Give With The Left, Rob With The Right: Kenyans To Pay More For Fuel, Homes