NAIROBI, Kenya — Lawyer Willis Evans Otieno has criticised the government’s handling of fuel pricing, arguing that recent increases are driven more by domestic tax policy than global geopolitical pressures.
In a statement posted on social media, Otieno dismissed claims that rising fuel costs are primarily linked to international conflicts, saying such explanations oversimplify the issue.
“The idea that Kenyans should simply ‘pray for the war to end’ or accept higher prices as unavoidable is economically weak,” he said.
He questioned why Kenya appears disproportionately affected if global conflict is the main driver of fuel price volatility.
“Is Kenya the only country affected by the war?” he posed. “Some of you reason so shallowly.”
Otieno instead pointed to internal fiscal decisions, arguing that the structure of taxation and revenue collection on fuel plays a bigger role in determining pump prices.
“The problem is not geopolitics,” he said. “It is how the state chooses to tax, structure, and extract revenue from fuel consumption domestically.”
His remarks come amid growing public debate following recent fuel price adjustments announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, which saw significant increases in petrol and diesel costs.
The price changes have triggered wider criticism from political leaders, economists, and consumer groups, many of whom warn of a ripple effect on transport, food prices, and overall cost of living.
Government officials have previously attributed price movements to global oil market trends, exchange rate fluctuations, and supply chain disruptions.
However, Otieno’s argument adds to a competing narrative that domestic tax structures—including levies and margins embedded in fuel pricing—are a key driver of high pump prices in Kenya.
