Gov't should subsidise kerosene or introduce alternatives for Kenyans - Former Senator Kasanga

Former Nominated Senator Sylvia Kasanga is of the opinion that President William Ruto's administration should have introduced kerosene subsidies to cushion Kenyans against the high cost of living after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced hikes in fuel prices last week.

Following the price adjustments, Super Petrol prices increased by Ksh.16.96 per litre while diesel rose by Ksh.21.33.  Kerosene surged the highest by Ksh.33.13 per litre.

Speaking on Citizen TV's JKLive Show on Wednesday, Kasanga noted that the State should have empathized with Kenyans by introducing kerosene subsidies since most low-income households in Kenya rely on the essential commodity.  

"You can't tell me that you can't subsidise kerosene which is used by the most vulnerable households we have. If at all we are going to show some empathy that is one way of showing some empathy. We should have seen empathy towards Kenyans by at least subsidising kerosene," she said.

"We can't live like this."

Her sentiments were shared by Aga Khan University College Dean Prof. Lukoye Atwoli who noted that the high cost of living is weighing heavily on Kenyans especially those that sit on the lower end of the spectrum.

"From the moment you wake up to the time you go to bed you are carrying a variety of burdens. People carry different weights of burdens. There are some people, the minority, with light burdens. The vast majority are in the middle with certain burdens that they are carrying but they don't want you to add the burden because it will break them," he said.

"If you add an extra piece on these people you increase the number of people who are breaking you reduce productivity and the risk of mental illness and substance abuse."

He similarly noted that the State should have introduced alternatives to kerosene following the fuel adjustments.

"If you are removing a person from what they are used to doing, you must replace it with an alternative that is moving in the direction of the policy that you are making," he said.