UDA dismisses calls for mass action over fuel prices, slams opposition pressers
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UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan has accused the opposition of spreading misinformation over the fuel situation, saying the current spike in prices is largely driven by global factors, including conflict in the Middle East, and not local policy failures.
“We in government are working hard, and we will continue responding to misinformation from the opposition,” Omar said, adding that the opposition’s recent press conference was “misleading, full of lies, and a misrepresentation of facts.”
Speaking during a briefing on what he described as a global fuel crisis, Omar said the government has taken steps to cushion Kenyans, including releasing Ksh6.2 billion from the Petroleum Development Levy Fund and reducing VAT on fuel from 16 per cent to eight per cent.
He said the measures have helped moderate pump prices, citing the latest prices as petrol at Ksh197.60, diesel at Ksh193.63 and kerosene at Ksh153.68.
Omar said the current fuel situation is “driven by global factors, especially the conflict in the Middle East,” insisting the opposition was wrong to claim the crisis was manufactured locally.
He defended the government-to-government (G2G) fuel import arrangement, saying it has “ensured steady fuel supply,” “reduced pressure on the US dollar,” and helped stabilise the economy.
He also claimed some opposition leaders now criticising the G2G deal had previously approved and supported it in 2023.
On a recent attempt to import fuel outside the G2G framework, Omar said the move was “illegal,” “more expensive,” and involved “substandard fuel.”
He argued that if the importation had gone through, petrol would be around Ksh236 and diesel about Ksh260, adding: “We cancelled that import to protect Kenyans.”
The UDA official dismissed calls for mass action over the issue, saying such protests were misguided because fuel pricing is largely influenced by global market forces.
He also criticised proposals to scrap the housing levy, NSSF and infrastructure funding, saying such moves would undermine development.
Omar further claimed Kenya pays more for fuel compared to some neighbours because it is classified as a middle-income country, unlike countries such as Tanzania.
In a swipe at the opposition, Omar said: “If you look at the face of the opposition when they give a press conference, it is the ugliest representation of past regimes… the ugliest face of everything that is wrong about Kenyan politics is reflected in that opposition.”
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