The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) has criticized the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) for maintaining fuel prices in the July–August pricing cycle.
The association described the decision as an economic betrayal of Kenyans despite declining international crude oil prices.
In a statement on July 15, 2026, MAK accused the regulator of denying consumers the benefits of sustained drops in global oil prices for the second consecutive monthly review.
“EPRA’s fuel price decision is an economic betrayal of Kenyans,” the association said, arguing that motorists, businesses and households continue to bear unnecessarily high fuel costs.
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MAK dismissed EPRA’s previous explanation that local fuel prices reflect a pricing lag of more than 45 days, saying the justification no longer holds.
“The global market has remained favourable for an extended period, yet Kenyans continue paying artificially high fuel prices while government agencies shift the goalposts instead of passing savings to consumers,” the statement read.
The association also accused the Ministry of Energy of failing to protect consumers, claiming it has instead defended a pricing regime that prioritizes government revenue over the interests of ordinary Kenyans.
“The greatest tragedy is that the Energy Ministry appears to have abandoned its constitutional duty to protect consumers,” MAK said, adding that the current system places an unbearable burden on motorists, transport operators and businesses already grappling with the high cost of living.
Energy law
The motorists’ lobby further blamed Parliament, arguing that amendments to Kenya’s energy laws since 2019 granted excessive powers over fuel price regulation to the Executive and EPRA without adequate safeguards to ensure international price reductions are reflected at local fuel stations.
According to MAK, fuel price regulation has strayed from its original purpose of protecting consumers through an independent and transparent pricing formula.
“Price controls should never become price suppression against consumers,” the association said, arguing that the pricing process has become increasingly political, opaque and disconnected from global market realities.
The association maintained that the government should limit its role to taxation, quality regulation and ensuring fair competition rather than determining retail fuel prices.
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MAK called for comprehensive reforms to Kenya’s fuel pricing framework, including removing political influence from fuel price determination and restoring what it described as an independent, transparent and market-responsive pricing system.
It also urged Parliament to urgently review the Energy Act and subsequent amendments that it says have concentrated excessive pricing powers in the Executive.
The association warned that high fuel prices continue to ripple across the economy by driving up public transport fares, food prices, production costs and the overall cost of doing business.
“Fuel pricing must serve the people, not politics,” MAK said, pledging to continue pushing for greater transparency, accountability and fairness in the country’s fuel pricing system.
