Outrage as Ichung’wah compares Kenya’s fuel prices to those in London
Martha Karua has sharply criticised Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) Kimani Ichung’wah over his comparison of Kenya’s fuel prices to those in London.
Martha Karua has sharply criticised Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) Kimani Ichung’wah over his comparison of Kenya’s fuel prices to those in London.
Taking to her official X account on Monday, April 20, 2026, Karua termed the comparison out of touch with the reality facing ordinary Kenyans.
Ichung’wah had defended current fuel prices by pointing to higher costs in the United Kingdom, noting that diesel and petrol prices in London are significantly above those in Kenya.
He also credited President William Ruto’s administration for reducing VAT on fuel from 16 per cent to 8 per cent to cushion consumers.
However, Karua dismissed the comparison, arguing that it ignores the economic realities of Kenyan citizens whose incomes remain significantly lower.
She urged leaders to focus on the lived experiences of ordinary people rather than drawing parallels with developed economies.
“Before we compare Kenya to London and other “middle income countries”, let us examine our reality,” she stated.
To illustrate her point, Karua painted a vivid picture of a typical Kenyan worker, referencing a boda boda rider in Gitaru struggling to make ends meet.
According to her, a rider may earn Ksh 1,500–2,000 on a good day, but fuel consumes a large portion of that income. Additional costs like loan repayments and maintenance would further reduce the earnings.
She argued that by the end of the day, many such workers are left with barely enough to sustain their families, let alone save.
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“Sit with Wafula, a boda boda rider in Gitaru, and walk through his day. From morning to evening, he might make 15–20 short distance trips. On a good day, he brings in about Ksh 1,500–2,000,” Karua wrote on X.
“Out of that, fuel takes a significant share, now add bike repayment or rent, a little for maintenance, and by the end of the day, what is left is barely enough to take care of his family needs, let alone save. This is the reality for many Kenyans.”
Karua emphasised that the real issue is not just fuel prices but affordability relative to income.
She contrasted Kenya with the UK, where higher fuel prices are offset by higher wages, reliable public transport systems, strong healthcare and social safety nets.
In Kenya, she said, citizens bear the full burden without comparable support systems.
“The issue is what fuel costs a Kenyan whose income has not kept pace, whose business depends on daily movement, and whose survival is tied to every shilling spent at the pump,” she stated.
“In the UK, higher prices exist alongside higher incomes, reliable public transport, functioning healthcare, and social systems that return value to the taxpayer. Hapa Kenya, hizo mizigo zote ni za mwananchi, who already is stretched, with little cushioning and even less return. So the question remains, is fuel affordable for Kenyans, within our reality?”
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