Senate sounds alarm over fuel price hikes and consumer abuse
National
By
Edwin Nyarangi
| May 11, 2026
Motorists queue for fuel at Rubi's petrol station, Koinange Street in Nairobi. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]
The Senate has raised concerns over what it says could be a wave of consumer exploitation disguised as fuel shortages and unjustified price hikes.
Speaking on the floor of the House, senators warned that Kenyans may be bearing the burden of weak regulatory enforcement, which has led to clear lapses in the petroleum sector.
Nandi senator Samson Cherarkey was the first to raise the concerns, demanding answers from the government on whether regulatory agencies had properly monitored price adjustments across the transport and essential commodities sectors.
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“I seek a statement on reports of exploitation of consumers following the April 2026 increase in fuel and petroleum prices across the country. The situation is raising concerns under the Consumer Protection Act 2012, Competition Act of 2010, and Energy Act of 2019,” said Cherarkey.
Cherarkey argued that the laws were meant to shield consumers from unfair pricing and market manipulation, claiming that following the fuel price adjustments, several counties have reported unreasonable increases in public transport fares and the cost of essential goods and services.
He said some traders were exploiting the situation to impose unfair price hikes not justified by operational costs and called on the Senate Trade committee to clarify whether regulatory agencies had evaluated fare increases and if there were any findings on unjustified pricing.
The senator demanded an explanation over the measures undertaken to track unregulated price increases, actions taken against profiteering or collusion and whether penalties had been imposed on offenders.
“The Senate should be clearly informed on whether the government has put in place long-term safeguards to protect households from future price shocks, since at the moment, members of the public are being exploited,” said Cherarkey.
Nominated senator Miriam Omar echoed the concerns, warning that consumers in remote and marginalised counties were bearing the highest burden of the price increases, with some traders having taken that opportunity to increase prices of their goods.
Omar said the most affected counties are those furthest from Nairobi, especially in northern Kenya, and that similar patterns often emerge during periods of inflation or seasonal disruptions such as floods.
The senator urged the government to consider standardised pricing mechanisms to protect consumers from arbitrary cost variations, especially in vulnerable regions.
Makueni senator Dan Maanzo emphasised the need for transparency and public participation before regulatory decisions that affect the cost of living are made.
“One of the key issues is that regulatory authorities must conduct public participation before implementing such impactful decisions. Failure to consult the public undermines constitutional requirements under the Statutory Instruments Act and weakens trust in governance processes,” said Maanzo.
Maanzo further proposed that the Competition Authority of Kenya and other agencies appear before the relevant Senate committees to explain whether any investigations had been conducted into alleged collusion or anti-competitive practices.
The senator argued that increases in fuel prices have a serious impact on commerce and business and warned that unchecked price hikes could slow economic activity, discourage investment, and worsen unemployment.
Maanzo linked the economic strain to broader social consequences, arguing that the lack of opportunities in Kenya was pushing young people to seek risky opportunities abroad, arguing that if the cost of doing business becomes too high, investors will move elsewhere.
Nominated senator Esther Okenyuri warned that unchecked exploitation could fuel inflation and reduce living standards.