COTU weighs in on new fuel prices, asks president to issue statement
COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to explain to Kenyans why the government is hell-bent on increasing the pain and suffering from Kenyan workers with an increase in fuel prices.
In a statement released on Thursday, Atwoli condemned the government for hiking fuel prices despite a decline in international prices of crude oil and uncertain times brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The President should comment and make a statement on this unfair perpetual increase in fuel prices. Unless their policies place Kenyan workers at the centre, then they should prepare for unrest from all quarters,” Atwoli said.
Atwoli asked the government to prepare for unrest from all quarters, saying Cotu is opposed to the perpetual increase in fuel prices.
“COTU (K) is opposed to the unfair and perpetual increase in fuel prices,” Atwoli said.
Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) increased the maximum wholesale and retail petroleum prices on Tuesday for the period 15th September – 14th October by nearly Ksh8.
ERPA announced that pump prices for super petrol, diesel and kerosene had increased by Sh7.58, Sh7.94 and Sh12.97 per litre respectively set social media on fire.
The surge in fuel prices will see motorists pay up to Sh137 per litre for super petrol, with the price for the product being Sh134.72 in Nairobi and Sh132.46 in Mombasa.
In Nakuru, petrol will retail at Sh134.24 per litre and Sh135.13 in Eldoret town.
In his suggestion to tame the rising cost of fuel in the country, Atwoli called on the government to revise the formula in fuel pricing and be innovative with how they raise their taxes.
