Kenyans hoping for cheaper fuel will have to wait longer after the High Court dismissed a petition that challenged the government’s handling of pump prices.
The case, filed in December 2023 by Kituo cha Sheria, accused the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) and the Ministry of Energy of failing to lower fuel costs despite declining global oil prices. The petitioners argued that the inaction had worsened the cost of living, strained households, and slowed economic growth.
However, Justice Chacha Mwita ruled that the petitioners had not demonstrated how EPRA and the Ministry had violated Kenyans’ economic and consumer rights as enshrined in Articles 43 and 46 of the Constitution.
“The measures already taken by government are reasonable. Any further steps would be additional, not mandatory,” the judge stated. He further noted that the court could not impose orders that effectively questioned existing government policy.
As a result, fuel prices will continue to be determined under the current pricing formula, despite public outcry. Kituo cha Sheria had insisted there was no justification for retaining the high costs of fuel, but the court found otherwise.
