Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary (CS) Opiyo Wandayi says that President William Ruto personally stepped in to ensure kerosene prices were not increased alongside petrol and diesel in yesterday’s fuel review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).

The CS said this on Wednesday, April 15, while leading a voter registration exercise in Ugunja, Siaya County, telling Kenyans not to panic over the new fuel prices.

“Yesterday you saw the hike in fuel prices, but I want to tell you, do not have any worry,” he said.

He also revealed that Ruto directed EPRA to put in place a KSh6.2 billion fuel subsidy, which helped prevent an even bigger jump at the pump than what Kenyans are currently seeing.

“The prices could have gone up much more, but because the Head of State directed us to put a subsidy, the rise was moderated,” Wandayi explained.

On why kerosene was spared, the CS said the president was keen to protect poor households that use kerosene for cooking and lighting on a daily basis.

“The President also told me that, despite the rise in petrol and diesel prices, kerosene should not be raised. So, if the U.S./Israel-Iran war ends, fuel prices will go down,” he added.

He blamed the rise in fuel costs on the ongoing war in the Middle East, saying things will get better once the conflict is resolved.

On top of that, the government has also cut VAT on fuel from 16 % to 13 % for three months to ease the burden on consumers.

This all comes after EPRA’s fuel review on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, where the regulator raised Super Petrol by Ksh 28.69 per litre and Diesel by Ksh 40.30 per litre, while leaving kerosene prices untouched.

Following the announcement, PSV operators said they will be raising fares by at least 25 % on all routes, with the cost of goods and services also expected to go up.

Ena Coach, one of the leading transport companies in Kenya, on Wednesday, April 15 announced that it is revising its fare structure following new fuel prices announced by EPRA.

In a statement, Ena Coach said it is increasing fare prices after carefully assessing the operational costs occassioned by the rise in fuel prices, as announced by EPRA.