By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 15 April 2026 - Siaya Governor James Orengo has launched a fierce critique of the government over a dramatic fuel price increase exceeding 25%, calling it unjustified and potentially driven by corruption within the petroleum sector.
He argues the spike defies global market trends and will trigger a chain reaction of rising production costs, slowed economic growth, and increased hardship for ordinary Kenyans.
Orengo also raised concerns over a controversial fuel consignment allegedly already in circulation, suggesting accountability gaps despite reported arrests.
Pushing for urgent relief, he proposed slashing VAT on fuel from 13 to 6% or lower, warning that without bold intervention, Kenya risks deepening its economic strain.
Speaking in Kisumu, Orengo didn’t mince words.
He tore into the more than 25% jump in fuel prices, dismissing it as economically indefensible and sharply out of sync with global oil trends.
In his view, this is no ordinary market fluctuation—it’s a red flag pointing to deeper dysfunction within Kenya’s petroleum sector.
“This kind of spike is completely unjustified,” Orengo declared, framing the crisis as a man-made burden rather than an inevitable global shock.
Orengo painted a grim picture of an economy on the brink of a slowdown, where rising fuel costs ripple through every layer of production. From manufacturing plants to public transport systems, the knock-on effect, he argued, will choke growth and tighten the squeeze on already struggling households.
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And for ordinary Kenyans, he warned, the pain will be immediate and unavoidable. Commuting, food prices, basic services—nothing will be spared. In Orengo’s telling, fuel is the bloodstream of the economy, and its contamination spells trouble everywhere.
The governor then pivoted to what could become the scandal at the heart of the crisis: a shadowy petroleum consignment allegedly already circulating in the market. Despite arrests being reported, Orengo suggested the real story remains buried—and profitable for a select few.
“Those involved have made their money,” he charged, “but at a great cost to the country.”
In perhaps his most explosive claim, Orengo accused entrenched corruption within the oil sector of inflating prices artificially, compounding external pressures like Middle East instability. The result, he argued, is a government failing in its most basic duty—protecting citizens from economic harm.
His criticism didn’t stop at diagnosis; it extended to policy. Orengo dismissed the current 13% VAT on fuel as inadequate relief, calling instead for a dramatic cut to 6%, or even zero-rating in key sectors to revive economic momentum.
In a sharply competitive global economy, he warned, Kenya cannot afford policies that suffocate production and drive up the cost of living.
The message was unmistakable: this is no longer just about fuel—it’s about accountability, transparency, and the economic direction of the country.
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