KISII, KENYA — Political temperatures in the country continue to rise after Kisumu County Woman Representative Ruth Odinga launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto’s administration over the recent surge in fuel prices, terming the move a “betrayal of the wananchi.”
Her remarks come just hours after the Head of State announced a Sh6.5 billion subsidy aimed at cushioning Kenyans from the rising cost of fuel, following a controversial review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). The latest adjustments saw diesel prices spike significantly, triggering public outrage across the country.
Speaking in Kisii County, Odinga dismissed the government’s intervention as insufficient and accused the Ministry of Energy of misleading Kenyans about the stability of the energy sector.
She criticized the much-publicized government-to-government (G2G) fuel import deal, which had been presented as a buffer against global market shocks.
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“Today, that shield has proven to be made of glass,” she stated, arguing that the sharp increase in diesel prices—described as one of the highest in recent history—has placed an unbearable burden on ordinary citizens.
Odinga warned that the ripple effects of the hike would be felt across all sectors of the economy.
She noted that farmers are now grappling with higher costs of production, particularly in ploughing and irrigation, while transport operators are likely to pass the burden onto commuters through increased fares.
“The price of every plate of food in this country has effectively gone up,” she said, adding that essential commodities such as maize flour, milk, and sugar are expected to rise sharply, pushing many households to the brink.
In her strongly worded statement, the legislator questioned the transparency of the pricing mechanism and demanded accountability from the government.
She challenged officials to clarify whether the price hike was driven by genuine economic factors or undue influence from oil sector cartels.
Odinga further called for an immediate re-evaluation of fuel prices and urged the government to provide tangible relief measures rather than what she termed as “empty assurances.”
The criticism adds to growing political pressure on the Ruto administration, as Kenyans continue to grapple with the rising cost of living, setting the stage for a potentially heated national debate on economic management and policy direction.
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