• Even though the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has kept pump prices unchanged from March 15 to April 14, 2025, the overall trend has been upward.

Fuel prices may seem steady at the pump right now, but the picture behind the scenes is far from simple. In previous months, data showed a roughly 12% increase in fuel prices compared to the quarter before.

This means that even though the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has kept pump prices unchanged from March 15 to April 14, 2025, the overall trend has been upward.

In Nairobi, the current prices stand at KES 176.58 per liter for super petrol, KES 167.06 for diesel, and KES 151.39 for kerosene. In Mombasa, super petrol sells at KES 173.34, disel at KES 163.82 and kerosene at 148.15.

Nakuru on the other hand, sells petrol at KES 175.80, diesel at KES 166.63 and Kerosene at KES 151.01. The prices for petrol, diesel and Kerosene is KES 176.62, KES 167.45 and KES 151.82 respectively.

At first glance, this stability might appear to offer consumers some relief.

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However, many Kenyans remain skeptical. With global oil prices dropping, many expected to see lower pump prices. For instance, Murban crude fell from $79.06 per barrel in March 2024 to $73.28 in February 2025. Yet, this benefit isn’t reaching the local fuel pumps.

The reason is clear: high taxes and additional levies are keeping prices high. A 16% Value Added Tax (VAT) along with other charges continues to add to the cost burden on every consumer. This means that even when international oil prices go down, the extra taxes and fees ensure that the relief is not passed on to motorists.

The sentiment among everyday Kenyans is one of frustration. Social media is filled with comments questioning why lower global prices aren’t making a difference locally. Some have even dismissed the situation as a “mchezo wa town,” suggesting that the benefits of lower crude prices are being lost along the way:

@mswahli33

We were told during campaigns that prices will regulate themselves once fuel subsidy is removed. Maajabu!

@ProfSalsa

While prices worldwide have dropped ni sawa tu

@KiokoEksEks

Mchezo wa town.

Business owners share this concern. Companies that rely heavily on fuel, such as transporters and small retailers, are already feeling the pinch.

Higher costs in other parts of the supply chain—like increased margins for oil marketing companies and transporters—mean that these expenses might eventually be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for goods and services.

EPRA defends its decision by saying that the adjustments are necessary to keep the fuel supply chain running smoothly. Yet, for many Kenyans, this explanation offers little comfort.

While the current pump prices might provide a temporary respite, the larger economic forces at play suggest that the fuel price burden may continue to grow. As consumers and business owners brace for future hikes, the call for more transparent pricing and a review of the high taxation system grows louder.

Bumbe Were teaches Literature/Communication and Media