NAIROBI, Kenya- Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has launched a scathing attack on Kenya’s government-to-government (G-to-G) fuel import arrangement, alleging it has inflated pump prices and enabled a network of political profiteering at the expense of ordinary citizens.
Speaking amid growing public anger over the high cost of fuel, the Kiharu MP, who previously chaired the National Assembly Budget Committee, claimed that part of the increase in petrol and diesel prices since 2022 is driven by what he termed “political rent.”
“Part of the additional cost Kenyans are paying is political rent through G-to-G. It is patronage, it is benefiting political leaders, it is a cabal to milk Kenyans,” Nyoro said.
Regional comparison raises questions
Nyoro questioned why Kenya continues to record higher fuel prices than its regional peers, arguing that countries without the G-to-G arrangement pay significantly less.
“Why are Kenyans paying more at the pump when Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Burundi, without G-to-G, are paying cheaper?” he posed.
He claimed that leaders in those countries are not extracting revenue from citizens through fuel pricing structures, unlike in Kenya.
‘A scandal and profiteering scheme’
In his strongest remarks yet, Nyoro described the G-to-G model as “a scandal,” “a kiosk,” and “a profiteering machine for people in power.”
He further alleged that both political insiders and some opposition-linked business interests are benefiting from the current system.
“Those who are profiteering from the oil business must have mercy on the Kenyan people,” he added.
Price trends under scrutiny
Nyoro cited historical price comparisons to support his argument, noting that when Kenya did not operate the G-to-G model, global oil prices were higher but local pump prices were lower.
According to him, when global crude traded at about $115 per barrel, petrol retailed at around Sh160 and diesel at Sh140.
Currently, he said, despite global prices dropping to about $98 per barrel, Kenyans are paying over Sh200 per litre.
He also linked the G-to-G system to currency pressures, claiming that the Kenya shilling has weakened against the US dollar since its introduction.
Growing pressure on fuel policy
The remarks come at a time when fuel prices have become a politically sensitive issue, with Kenyans grappling with the ripple effects on transport, food, and basic goods.
Critics of the G-to-G model have increasingly called for greater transparency in fuel procurement and pricing, while the government maintains that the arrangement was introduced to stabilise supply and ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
Nyoro’s comments are likely to intensify the debate, adding political weight to growing public demands for reforms in Kenya’s energy sector.
