By Josiah Kariuki
President William Ruto has announced a reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel from 16 per cent to 8 per cent for the next three months, as part of a package of measures aimed at cushioning Kenyans from rising global oil prices.
Speaking in Kisii County on the final day of his development tour of the Gusii region, the President said the government has also released KSh6.2 billion to stabilise fuel prices and will maintain kerosene prices at current levels.
Ruto attributed the surge in fuel costs to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which he said have disrupted global supply chains and driven up oil prices.
“We are going to make sure that we cushion the people of Kenya from high prices of fuel,” he said, adding that the government will continue monitoring the situation to mitigate its impact on the local economy.
The President noted that Kenya has maintained adequate fuel supplies through the Government-to-Government fuel import arrangement, describing the country as a competitive destination amid global shortages.
At the same time, Ruto criticised opposition calls for demonstrations over the rising cost of fuel, saying protests would not resolve a challenge he described as global in nature.
He said a lasting solution lies in the cessation of hostilities in the Middle East.
The announcement came as the President concluded a four-day development tour marked by the commissioning and launch of infrastructure projects across the Gusii region.
In Bomachoge Chache Constituency, he commissioned the KMTC Gucha Campus, inspected the construction of Egetuki Market and broke ground for the Sameta–Egetuki–Ikoba Road.
Additional road projects and the Nyangweta KMTC Campus were also launched in Etago and South Mugirango.
The projects, spanning health training institutions, road networks and market infrastructure, form part of the government’s broader strategy to expand access to services, improve connectivity and support small-scale traders at the grassroots.
Ruto said the initiatives are intended to address long-standing gaps in medical training, transport and trading facilities, while stimulating local economies.
The tour was attended by senior government officials and regional leaders, underscoring what the administration described as a coordinated approach to development delivery.
The President said the government will continue to prioritise such projects to ensure inclusive growth, even as it responds to external economic pressures such as rising global fuel prices.