By: Ollus Ndomu
Motorists in Kenya have continued to endured major fuel shortages amid skyrocketing prices, as many pumps across the country remain dry.
On Monday, motorists were seen in long queues waiting to refill, with public and private service workers who commute missing work while Kenyan social media users reacted sharply to the fuel situation in their country.
According to local media reports, the government blames the prevailing fuel shortages on hoarding and panic buying for the snaking lines at refilling stations that worsened over the weekend through Monday to Wednesday.
Meanwhile, oil dealers refuted the government’s claims, saying the shortage was as a result of the state’s failure to clear outstanding subsidy payments.
Early this week, Kenyan oil marketing companies downed tools, parked their tankers demanding over $400 million being owed in debt through state subsidies.
The crunch started late last week in the country’s western region after the government and oil marketing companies failed to reach a fair deal on the outstanding subsidy payments.
Cars, motorcycles, and minibuses are limited to a rationed amount of fuel in many parts of the capital, Nairobi, as market experts work around the clock to correct the situation.
Kenya like other oil importing countries, is grappling with surging gas prices coupled with a skyrocketing cost of living due to the deepening Russia-Ukraine war in Europe.
