Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of ordering an increase in fuel prices to raise money for political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 General Election, hours before the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced its latest price review. Gachagua alleged that the President had directed petrol prices to rise by KSh12 per litre and diesel by KSh9, claiming the additional money would be channelled towards political bribery.
His allegations came as Kenyans awaited the regulator’s announcement on Wednesday, October 14, 2026
In a statement posted on his official Facebook account, Gachagua alleged that the President had directed the increases to be processed through Gulf Energy, an oil marketing company. “Desperate to raise more cash, last evening, he ruthlessly ordered an increase in the price of diesel by Kshs. 9 and petrol by Kshs. 12,” Gachagua wrote. He further claimed that Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi had been instructed to hold a press conference and attribute the anticipated increases to global fuel prices.
Gachagua dismissed that explanation as “pure lies and conmanship”, alleging that the additional revenue would be used to finance political activities ahead of the August 2027 elections. The claims remained unsubstantiated in the reporting available, and no evidence presented publicly established that the fuel-price review had been directed for political purposes.
Later on Wednesday, EPRA announced an increase of KSh12.93 per litre for super petrol and KSh9.90 for diesel, closely matching the figures Gachagua had cited. Under the new monthly review, a litre of super petrol in Nairobi rose to KSh226.96, while diesel increased to KSh227.76. Kerosene prices also rose by KSh28.49 per litre. The new maximum retail prices took effect on October 15 and will remain in force until November 14, when the next review is due. Although the announced increases were close to Gachagua’s earlier estimates, that similarity alone does not establish his allegation that the President ordered the adjustment for political reasons.
Explaining the increase, EPRA Director-General Edward Mwirigi Kinyua attributed the higher pump prices to rising international petroleum costs linked to the Middle East crisis. Kinyua said September had been the worst month since the crisis began, as disruptions in global supply chains pushed up the cost of importing petroleum products into Kenya.
The Energy Ministry had issued a similar warning a day earlier, with Wandayi saying attacks on oil tankers and disruptions affecting pipelines, loading facilities and shipping routes had tightened supplies while increasing freight and insurance costs. According to the ministry, the landed cost of super petrol at the Port of Mombasa rose from approximately US$1,199 per tonne in August to US$1,385 in September, while diesel increased from about US$1,200 to US$1,313 per tonne.
Wandayi also assured Kenyans that the country had adequate fuel stocks and that cargo deliveries were arriving and being offloaded on schedule. He credited the government-to-government fuel procurement arrangement with helping maintain supplies despite disruptions in traditional shipping routes, saying, “Through all of this, Kenya’s fuel supply has remained uninterrupted.”
The latest price increase has renewed political debate over the cost of living, with Gachagua questioning the government’s motives while authorities point to rising international import costs. The competing explanations leave the political allegation unproven, even as motorists, transport operators and businesses face higher fuel expenses. The new prices are expected to place further pressure on household budgets and transport costs, making fuel affordability a continuing issue as the country moves towards the 2027 General Election.
