Opiyo Wandayi slams Ndindi Nyoro over fuel price remarks
By Valerian Khakayi, July 18, 2025Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has strongly criticised Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro over his remarks on fuel prices.
Speaking during the commissioning of rural electrification projects in Kajiado West sub-county on Thursday, July 17, 2025, Wandayi defended the recent increase in fuel prices, attributing it to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, which he says has triggered a global surge in oil prices.
According to him, Kenya has also been affected by the international fuel price hike.
“Rafiki yangu Ndindi Nyoro mbunge wa Kiharu ameanza kuharibika kwa sababu anatoa matamshi ambayo haina maana,vita klati ya Iran na Israel ndio imesababisha bei ya mafuta dunia mzima iende juu kidogo,ndiposa sisi hapa Kenya tukapata nyongeza kidogo ya bei wiki iliyopita,” Wandayi said.
“Wenye wanapiga kilele wamekuwa wakikiya wakati bei ya mafuta inashuka chini, tukilinganisha bei ya mafuta Kenya na zile nchi za Afrika ambazo ziko kiwango ya Kenya kimaendeleo bei yetu ya mafuta bado iko chini ikitinganishwa na hizo nchi.“
Electricity price
The CS also refuted claims that electricity prices would rise due to the increase in fuel prices, stating that global factors drive rising fuel prices and not domestic policy, which would not lead to higher electricity costs.
“Ile uvumi ambayo watu wengine wanaeneza ya kwamba bei ya stima inapanda hiyo ni porojo, bei ya stima imekuwa ikishuka katika hii nchi for the last 20 years na wakati inashuka hawaongei,”he added.
Ndindi Nyoro on fuel prices
This comes after Kiharu MP blamed the high fuel prices on excessive taxes and levies, rather than global market dynamics.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, July 17, 2025, Nyoro pointed to regional comparisons that show Kenya’s prices are significantly higher than those of neighbouring countries.
He highlighted that petrol in Kenya currently retails at Ksh186 per litre, while in Tanzania it costs Ksh142, in Uganda it is below Ksh180, in Ethiopia it is under Ksh125, and in Rwanda it is below Ksh170.
“The current price of petrol is Ksh186. If you cross the border to Tanzania, petrol prices are Ksh 142; Uganda is below Ksh180; Ethiopia, the current price is below Ksh 125; and Rwanda is below Ksh 170,” he said.
“The basic issue here is the fuel prices in Kenya have been high, not because of global issues but because of exorbitant taxes and levies.”
He cited the introduction of a Ksh7 levy by the government as a key contributor to the price burden the country is facing.
“The government introduced a levy of Ksh7, which is why when global oil prices went down, Kenya never noticed because that was when the levy was introduced,” he said.