The Central Organisation of Trade Unions has threatened nationwide protests after the Energy Regulatory Commission raised petroleum prices.
Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli said the increase amounted to “an indirect implementation of the 16 percent VAT tax” that Kenyans had opposed. He urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to step in, warning that the union could move to court if the prices were not reviewed.
Atwoli said Cotu would convene an affiliate meeting the following week to decide its next move. He said one option was to challenge the government in court, while another was to mount protests across the country under Cotu’s leadership.
The ERC’s latest review increased super petrol by Sh2.38, diesel by Sh3.11 and kerosene by Sh2.99 in Nairobi. The regulator said the changes were driven by higher import costs in the global market since September 2018.
Atwoli said the higher fuel prices would feed into the cost of essential goods, housing and transport. He also argued that the increase would further strain taxpayers already facing pressure from fares and the enforcement of the “Michuki rules” in the transport sector.
He said the ERC had advertised new prices for the period between November 15 and December 14, with petrol up by Sh6 and diesel by Sh8 in major towns.
