Fred Matiang'i: The worst is yet to come, brace yourselves

According to Matiang'i, the national upheaval on how critical sectors are being managed will worsen as has been seen by the ongoing fuel price hike protests.

He claimed that the President William Ruto-led government has failed to tame corruption and incompetence, and the nation is only reaping from poor governance.

"We are headed in the wrong direction. I think the worst is yet to come, brace yourselves because the final product of our mismanagement for the last four years is being seen," he said while meeting party delegates from Kiambu.

"There is unprecedented looting of public institutions. Theft left, right and centre."

The Jubilee party 2027 presidential candidate further argued that the administration's leadership has sparked dissension across the nation, a level he says has never been witnessed under previous regimes.

"The level of insecurity in this country is historic. We have never reached here," he said. 

"The level of anger and frustration in the country, if you speak with Kenyans. Everywhere we are going, the pain and anger is the same."

Matiang'i added that the party will show solidarity to the ongoing fuel price protests across the nation, which have paralysed business operations in major parts of the capital.

"Even my expenditure on fuel is two times what it has been. Already, that is a strain on my budget and that of those supporting my campaign," he said.

While announcing this month's adjustments, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced that the cost of Super Petrol and Diesel will shoot up by Ksh.16.65 and Ksh.46.29 per litre, respectively, while the price of Kerosene remains unchanged.

In Nairobi, Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene now retail at Ksh.214.25, Ksh.242.92 and Ksh.152.78 effective midnight for the next 30 days.

In Mombasa, Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene retail at Ksh.211.09, Ksh.239.64 and Ksh.149.49, respectively.  

In Nakuru, Super Petrol is selling at Ksh.213.15, Diesel at Ksh.242.33 and Kerosene at Ksh.152.21. 

Transport operators have insisted they will keep their vehicles off the roads until the government lowers fuel prices.

They maintain that the nationwide shutdown is a peaceful protest against what they termed “unending” taxes and high pump prices.

The National Matatu Owners Association have claimed they had made losses running into hundreds of millions of shillings due to the shutdown, but said they were willing to continue the strike until fuel prices are reduced.