NAIROBI, Kenya — Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has criticised President William Ruto over his trip to Azerbaijan, saying the visit came at the wrong time as fuel protests disrupted parts of the country.
Nyoro argued that the government should have prioritised calming tensions at home instead of engaging in international travel during a period of economic strain and public unrest.
‘Wrong time for the trip’
Speaking during a television interview, Nyoro said the administration appeared to be underestimating the severity of the situation facing citizens.
“If I were in the shoes of the Head of State, I would not have travelled to Azerbaijan,” he said, adding that leaders should have addressed the nation directly as fuel prices were set to rise.
He said the government had enough information to anticipate public reaction and should have acted earlier to manage expectations.
Criticism of government communication
Nyoro also faulted senior government officials for frequent media appearances, arguing that leadership should focus on delivering solutions rather than making repeated public statements.
“When you are in government, you cease to have the privilege of promising. You now have to do the job,” he said.
He added that Kenyans were now more critical and demanding accountability from leaders, especially in light of recent economic pressures.
Fuel price proposals
The MP has previously proposed a series of measures aimed at reducing fuel costs, including the removal of VAT on petroleum products and adjustments to levies and margins in the oil sector.
He also suggested a Sh5 billion injection from the Fuel Stabilisation Fund to cushion diesel prices, arguing that the fund is already financed through consumer contributions.
According to his estimates, the proposals could reduce petrol prices by about Sh15 per litre and diesel by up to Sh54 per litre in the short term.
Economic pressure and protests
Nyoro warned that high fuel prices were already driving up transport costs, commodity prices, and overall inflation, with ripple effects on households and businesses.
He said the impact of disruptions linked to recent protests could run into tens of billions of shillings due to reduced productivity and strained supply chains.
He urged the government to focus on short-term interventions lasting four to six months to stabilise the economy as global oil markets remain volatile.
The remarks come amid growing political debate over the handling of fuel pricing and the government’s response to nationwide demonstrations.
