Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata has today said that the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill, 2020 will make life more expensive.
Kang’ata said that taxes which are a major component of fuel prices and with the BBI Bill proposing an expansion of Parliament, taxes will rise and fuel prices even rise more.
Similarly, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) asked Epra to revoke the increase in fuel price accusing the agency of insensitivity.
Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna said the price changes are shocking coming soon after the previous month’s increase and just as the country is going into a third wave of the pandemic.
“Silence on our part at this time will amount to complicity, and we therefore unequivocally state that we are opposed to this increase in the price of fuel. We demand that this decree is rescinded before it becomes effective,” Sifuna said in a statement on Friday evening.
According to Sifuna, it is exactly one year since Covid-19 was first reported in Kenya, creating job losses, collapsing industries and winding up SMEs.
“The pandemic has been a tragedy for the already heavily-taxed population. Central to this tragedy has been the cost of energy, which has an impact on every facet of our lives,” he said.
The statement was released hours after Epra announced an increase in fuel prices with motorists now having to pay more than Ksh.120 per litre to fill their vehicle with petrol.
Epra yesterday increased the prices of super petrol, diesel and kerosene by Sh8.19, Sh5.51 and Sh5.32 per litre respectively.
Epra’s acting Director-General Daniel Bargoria said the costs of a litre of super petrol, diesel and kerosene had risen by Sh7.63, Sh5.75, and Sh5.41 per litre, respectively, for the March 15 to April 14 period.
