Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has revealed that his ministry will hold talks with President William Ruto in a fresh bid to figure out how to lower fuel prices amid growing pressure from motorists and transport operators threatening a nationwide strike over the developments.

Speaking on Saturday, May 16, during an ODM grassroots mobilisation tour in Nyakach, Kisumu County, Mbadi said the government was aware of the growing frustrations among Kenyans following the latest fuel price increase announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).

The Treasury CS defended the government against criticism over the soaring fuel prices, insisting that the administration had already put in place several interventions to cushion consumers from even higher costs.

Mbadi pointed to measures such as the fuel stabilisation programme and reductions in Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products, arguing that the current crisis had largely been triggered by global market forces beyond Kenya’s direct control.

Treasury CS John Mbadi speaking during an event on May 16, 2026.

Photo

ODM

“Even in the United States, which produces its own fuel, petroleum prices have risen by 60 per cent. Everywhere in the world, the prices of fuel have gone up. We will do whatever it takes to lower fuel prices in Kenya,” Mbadi stated.

The CS further disclosed that his team would soon seek an urgent meeting with President Ruto to deliberate on immediate interventions aimed at easing the burden on consumers and calming tensions within the transport sector.

“What we will do is we will have a meeting with the President to make sure that whatever it takes, we talk and see how we can lower the prices of petroleum products so that our people can find peace and not suffer because of rising prices of petroleum products,” Mbadi added.

However, Mbadi did not provide timelines on when the meeting would take place or whether other state agencies had become involved following threats of nationwide protests and a total transport shutdown.

His remarks came just hours after motorists, boda boda riders, matatu operators, digital cab drivers, cargo transporters, and tourist vehicle operators confirmed plans for a nationwide strike beginning Monday, May 18.

In a joint statement issued under the Transport Alliance after a stakeholders’ meeting in Nairobi, the groups accused the government and EPRA of imposing ‘sharp and unjustified’ fuel price hikes that had worsened the already high cost of living.

The protests follow the latest EPRA fuel review released on Thursday, May 14, which increased the price of Super Petrol by Ksh16.65 per litre and Diesel by Ksh46.29 per litre for the May-June 2026 cycle.

Following the review, Super Petrol is now retailing at Ksh214.25 per litre, while Diesel has jumped to Ksh242.92 per litre, triggering immediate fare hikes by PSV operators and long-distance bus companies across the country.

At the same time, political pressure over the fuel crisis continues to mount after Ndindi Nyoro formally requested Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to recall Parliament for an emergency sitting to deliberate on proposals aimed at reducing fuel prices by up to Ksh27 per litre.

A petrol tanker transporting fuel along Thika Super Highway, November 13, 2019.

Kenyans.co.ke