Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) has protested the government’s move to hike fuel prices.
In a statement on Thursday, COTU secretary-general Francis Atwoli asked President Kenyatta to explain the reasons behind the huge increase in pump prices by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
“As COTU we would like to remind His Excellency the President that Kenyan workers are suffering and that he should not tolerate the impunity, punishment, and the affront towards Kenyan workers by bodies such as EPRA,” said Atwoli.
“We would like His Excellency the President to come out and make a statement on this unfair perpetual increase in fuel prices. The President should, himself, explain to Kenyans why the government is hell-bent on increasing the pain and suffering of Kenyan workers and Kenyans in general amid the Covid-19 pandemic.”
He observed that many workers are suffering from heavy taxation and slashed salaries due to COVID-19, adding that the government should find innovative ways to raise taxes.
“As observed earlier, in our warning to the government to stop irritating Kenyan workers with these outrageous and insensitive increases in fuel prices, it only costs Sh49.84 to import a liter of petrol from the Middle East while an average Kenyan has to pay an extra of around Sh.84 for every liter of petrol purchased. Interestingly, Uganda, which is a landlocked country, retails its petrol at Sh110 compared to Kenya’s Sh134,” Atwoli added.
In its latest review, EPRA raised the prices of super petrol by Sh7.58 per liter and Sh7.94 and Sh12.97 per liter for diesel and kerosene respectively,
A liter of petrol in Nairobi is now retailing at Sh134.72 from Sh127.14 while the cost of diesel and kerosene rose to Sh115.60 and Sh110.82 respectively.
Atwoli does Uganda has…
Atwoli does Uganda has county government? Its called taxation and the cost of big government. The government has no other source of paying the hefty salaries apart from highly taxing its citizens. This is just the beginning. How else would you explain the difference in petrol prices?
BBI and corruption, sgr,…
BBI and corruption, sgr, cartels, big govt, etc have consequences. Framers of constitution had zero economy equations in their minds. 20 instead of 47 counties would save half of budget but again politics seems to be one of main employers in Kenya.
This is a ticking time bomb…
This is a ticking time bomb.
UHURUS government does not care about the common mwanainchi as long as him and GOONS are MILKING.
If nothing changes, next year’s elections will be the most BLOODIEST.
JUST WAIT AND WATCH.