UDA leadership addressing the media at UDA Headquarters.
Nairobi, April 16, 2026 — Rising fuel prices have triggered a sharp political showdown, as the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) accuses the opposition of turning a global energy crisis into a political tool while Kenyans grapple with the mounting cost of living.
In a hard-hitting statement, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan dismissed claims that the crisis is locally driven, linking the surge in pump prices to global market shocks and conflict in the Middle East.
“Kenya, like many import-dependent economies, is facing the ripple effects of a volatile global energy market,” Hassan said, warning that politicising the crisis only adds pressure on already strained households.
Even so, the impact on the ground is growing. Petrol now retails at KSh 197.60 and diesel at KSh 196.63, pushing up transport costs and squeezing businesses. As a result, families are paying more for basic goods, deepening concerns over an escalating cost-of-living crisis.
The ruling party insists the government has acted to cushion consumers. Hassan pointed to a KSh 6.2 billion subsidy from the Petroleum Development Levy and a cut in VAT on fuel from 16 percent to 8 percent. According to him, these measures have prevented prices from spiralling further.
“Without these interventions, pump prices would be significantly higher,” he said, framing the government’s response as a necessary shield against global shocks.
At the centre of the dispute is the government-to-government fuel import deal. UDA maintains the arrangement has stabilised supply and eased pressure on the shilling by reducing demand for dollars in the open market. Hassan described it as a critical buffer that has kept the country supplied despite global disruptions.
At the same time, he accused opposition leaders of shifting positions for political gain, arguing that some of them had previously backed the same framework they now criticise. He further warned that attempts to import fuel outside the approved system were illegal and risked exposing Kenyans to higher costs and substandard products.
“Those actions would have pushed prices beyond KSh 230 and hurt consumers even more,” he said.
However, as leaders trade accusations, pressure continues to build on ordinary Kenyans. Transport fares are rising steadily, food prices are edging upward, and small businesses are struggling to absorb higher operating costs.
Meanwhile, the opposition has called for protests, blaming government policies for worsening the crisis. But UDA has dismissed the calls as misguided, arguing that scrapping key economic programmes would undermine long-term stability.
As the standoff intensifies, the fuel crisis is quickly evolving into a defining political and economic issue. Yet beyond the political rhetoric, many Kenyans are left asking a simple question how much longer they can cope with the relentless rise in fuel prices.
