By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, 15 July 2026 - The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) has sharply criticized the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) for retaining fuel prices for the July–August pricing cycle, arguing that the decision denies Kenyans the benefits of declining global oil prices and places an unnecessary burden on households and businesses already grappling with a high cost of living.
In a strongly worded statement, the association described EPRA's latest pricing decision as "an economic betrayal of Kenyans," saying this was the second consecutive fuel price review in which consumers had failed to benefit from sustained declines in international crude oil prices.
"The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) strongly condemns EPRA's decision to retain fuel prices for the July-August pricing cycle despite the sustained decline in international crude oil prices over recent weeks.
This is now the second consecutive pricing review in which Kenyan consumers have been denied the full benefit of favourable global market conditions," the association said.
The lobby group dismissed EPRA's earlier explanation that fuel pricing operates with a lag of more than 45 days, arguing that enough time has elapsed for lower international prices to be reflected at local filling stations.
"When fuel prices were previously left unchanged, EPRA justified its decision by citing a pricing lag of over 45 days. That explanation has now collapsed under its own weight. The global market has remained favourable for an extended period, yet Kenyans continue paying artificially high fuel prices while government agencies shift the goalposts instead of passing savings to consumers," MAK stated.
The association also accused the Ministry of Energy of failing in its constitutional responsibility to safeguard consumers by defending what it termed an unfair pricing regime.
"The greatest tragedy is that the Energy Ministry appears to have abandoned its constitutional duty to protect consumers. Instead of ensuring fairness and transparency, the Ministry has chosen to defend a pricing regime that increasingly serves government revenue at the expense of ordinary citizens, motorists, transport operators and businesses struggling under the weight of an unbearable cost of living," the statement read.
MAK further turned its attention to Parliament, arguing that amendments made to Kenya's energy laws since 2019 had concentrated excessive authority over fuel pricing in the Executive and EPRA without establishing sufficient safeguards to ensure consumers benefit when global fuel prices decline.
According to the association, "Parliament must equally shoulder responsibility. Through successive amendments to Kenya's energy laws from 2019 and thereafter, it handed excessive powers over fuel price regulation to the Executive and EPRA without putting in place sufficient safeguards to ensure that international price reductions are reflected fairly and promptly at the pump."
The lobby maintained that Kenya's fuel price regulation framework has drifted away from its original objective of protecting consumers from price manipulation.
"Fuel price control has lost its original purpose. MAK supported regulation only when it was based on an independent, transparent and scientific pricing formula that insulated consumers from manipulation. Today, the process has become increasingly political, opaque and detached from the realities of the international market. Price controls should never become price suppression against consumers," the association said.
MAK questioned the rationale behind government-administered retail fuel prices, arguing that the State neither produces nor owns petroleum products.
More from Kenya
"There is no economic justification for government to determine the retail price of a commodity it neither produces nor owns while the international market operates on the principles of demand and supply. Government's legitimate role is to collect lawful taxes, regulate quality and competition, and prevent exploitation, not to deny consumers the benefits of lower global prices through administrative price fixing," the statement added.
The association is now calling for comprehensive reforms to Kenya's fuel pricing framework, including removing political influence from the monthly pricing process and restoring what it describes as an independent, transparent and market-responsive pricing system.
It also urged Parliament to review the Energy Act and subsequent amendments that govern fuel price regulation.
"We also call upon Parliament to urgently review the Energy Act and all subsequent amendments that have concentrated excessive pricing powers in the Executive without adequate public accountability. Any law that consistently disadvantages consumers while protecting government revenue requires immediate reconsideration," MAK said.
The lobby warned that persistently high fuel prices have far-reaching consequences beyond motorists, noting that they directly contribute to higher transport fares, increased food prices, rising production costs and reduced competitiveness for businesses.
"High fuel prices are not merely an inconvenience. They translate directly into higher public transport fares, increased food prices, rising production costs, reduced business competitiveness and a heavier burden on every Kenyan household. The entire economy suffers when consumers are denied legitimate price reductions," the association said.
EPRA sets maximum retail fuel prices every month using a pricing formula that takes into account the landed cost of imported petroleum products, exchange rate movements, freight and handling charges, distribution costs, dealer margins and various taxes and levies. While international crude oil prices influence pump prices, changes are not always reflected immediately because of these additional cost components.
However, MAK insists that the current framework no longer adequately reflects global market trends and has pledged to continue pushing for reforms.
"The Motorists Association of Kenya will continue demanding transparency, accountability and fairness in fuel pricing. Kenyans cannot continue financing inefficiency and political convenience while global markets move in their favour. Fuel pricing must serve the people, not politics."