President William Ruto during the launch of the Sagana- Kathaka- Thiguku road in Ndia, Kirinyaga County addressed the high cost of fuel on Saturday. November 18.
In his speech, Ruto said that he was aware that the fuel prices had hiked in recent times but assured that the government was looking for an effective way to see the prices fall adding that prices have escalated world wide Ruto promised that the Government will not allow these prices to reach a point where Kenyans get hurt.
“Ingawa bei duniani kote inapanda,tunafuata vile inapanda na tumetafuta namna ili bei isipite mahali Wakenya wengi wataumia. Mmeona kuanzia mwezi huu hiyo bei imeanza kuteremka… Mwezi ujao itateremka zaidi, na mwezi huo mwingine hivyo hivyo…mpaka tuhakikishe tunaweza kuendesha uchumi wetu vile inafaa” Ruto said.
Ruto futher explained that he made a pact with Saudi Arabia and United Arabs Emirates (UAE )to give Kenya oil which will be sold in Kenyan Shilling and paid after six months.
The Head of State said that when he took over the government, there was an issue of hoarding the oil resulting to large queues of vehicles at the petrol stations.
“Bei ya mafuta sasa tumeanza kuishughulikia. Bei ya mafuta imepanda kila mahali, lakini siku nilipoingia, mlikua mnaona magari yamejaa petrol stations kukiwa na uhaba wa mafuta… Niliongea na watu wa Saudi Arabia na UAE nikawaambia watupe mafuta tuuze na shilingi ya Kenya na baada ya miezi sita sisi tutawalipa. Hivyo ndio maana Kenya haikosi mafuta,” Ruto said.
Ruto assured that the government had agreed with the sellers of oil to work on the prices.
He blasted the opposition Leader Raila Odinga’s talk saying that oil in Kenya is actually cheaper than the neighbouring countries.
“Sisi kama Kenya hatuna mafuta, tunanunua kwa watu wengine. Wale wenye kutuuzia ndio wanauzakwa bei yenye wanajua. Lakini tumekubaliana ya kuwa hiyo bei tutaipiga msasa… Kenya tunainunua kwa bei ya chini kuliko majirani zetu. Ule mkataa niliweka na watu wa Saudi, UAE saa hizi majirani zetu Uganda, Tanzania na Rwanda wanaenda kutafuta vile nilifanya kwa sababu huo mkataba ndio unatusaidia, hatuna matatizo na mafuta tunayo ya kutosha,” the President noted.