Editor's Review

The frantic lawmaker had it rough in the face of the constituents who were determined to shut him down.

Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda encountered the wrath of the Kitutu Chache South constituents after commenting on factors behind the inflation of the prices of fuel products.

Jhanda was among the UDA-elected lawmakers accompanying President Willian Ruto to Cardinal Otunga Mosocho High School for a thanksgiving service on Saturday, December 16.

The first-timer in the National Assembly sought to exonerate the president from blame over the exorbitant cost of fuel, saying he was not able to control the market forces leading to the prices.

"It is important we understand that it is not the president who increases or reduces the prices of fuel. We must know that there are factors behind this," he said as the audience became ungovernable.

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Nyaribari Chache Zaheer Jhanda (centre) provoked the Kitutu South constituents when he defended President William Ruto over the fuel prices.

The lawmaker was heckled almost into submission as he strived to defend himself without backing down. 

Signals by area MP Anthony Kibagendi to the locals to keep calm gave into futility as they went on.

According to Jhanda, what he said was the truth and it would not change anytime soon.

"That is the truth, we must learn to accept the truth. Even if we make noise it is the truth the president is not responsible for the prices," Jhanda said.

Meanwhile, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) reduced the price of fuel from December 14 to January 14 2024.

In a statement on Thursday, December 14, the energy regulator said that the price of Petrol would reduce by Sh 5 while diesel and Kerosene would decrease by Sh 2.00 per litre and Sh 4.01 per litre respectively.

“In the period under review, the maximum allowed petroleum pump price for Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene decreased by Sh .5.00 per litre, Sh.2.00 per litre and Sh.4.01 per litre respectively.

"The prices are inclusive of the 16% Value Added Tax (VAT) in line with the provisions of the Finance Act 2023, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2020 and the revised rates for excise duty adjusted for inflation as per Legal Notice No. 194 of 2020,” the statement read in part.

According to EPRA, Petrol would retail at Sh 212.36 in Nairobi while Diesel and Kerosene will retail at Sh 201.47 and Sh 199.05 respectively.

In Mombasa Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene would trade at Sh 209.3, Sh 198.41 and Sh 195.92 respectively.

The regulator noted that the average landed cost of imported Super Petrol decreased by 16.11% from US$827.75 per cubic metre in October 2023 to US$694.44 per cubic metre in November 2023.

Diesel decreased by 5.43% from US$873.42 per cubic metre to US$826.01 per cubic metre while Kerosene decreased by 6.63% from US$813.90 per cubic metre to US$759.93 per cubic metre.