Where is the Ksh.39B fund? Ruto demands answers as he blames gov’t for fuel crisis

Deputy President William Ruto is now accusing the government of being insensitive to the plight of millions of Kenyans for failing to resolve the current fuel shortage crisis that is threatening to paralyse the transport sector.

 In a press briefing on Monday, DP Ruto said the current high cost of living further compounded by the fuel crisis is a result of collusion between cartels and “incompetent public officials”.

 “The current state of affairs is a clear manifestation of the vestiges of conflict of interest and state capture that is now pervasive in all sectors of our economy. Kenyans want an end to this issue of conflict of interest and state capture,” said Ruto.

“The casual and insensitive attitude to the plight of tens of millions of struggling Kenyans is a disturbing development that has emboldened cartels which have taken over critical economic sectors and are now moving in top gear to capture the state.”

He added: "This is why, in the midst of this distressing crisis, the loudest messages from public officials including ministers are centered around, BBI Reggae and Azimio jingle bells and whistles."

 The deputy president claimed that the Ksh.39 billion Petroleum Development Fund that is meant for the fuel subsidy program was being diverted to other uses hence the fuel crisis.

 The DP called on the National Treasury to come out and explain to Kenyans the utilization of the fund.

 “The auditor general has already raised queries on the irregular and illegal diversion of this consumer protection funds to state agencies and unnamed private entities. She also decried abuses on the petroleum import systems in favour of some preferred and politically connected oil marketers deliberately depriving Kenyans of the subsidy mechanism,” posed Ruto.

 “Can the treasury also confirm or deny that the diversion of funds has been used in debt servicing and infrastructure development without the approval of the National Assembly?”

Ruto further demanded that the National Treasury disclose the import quotas that have been allocated to oil marketers over the last one-year, by name.

Meanwhile, President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday signed the 1st 2021-2022 supplementary budget estimates into law clearing the path for the release of Ksh.34 billion to oil marketing companies (OMCs).

The assent of the bill is seen as timely in resolving the current fuel shortage which has been linked to product hoarding by OMCs as they push for the payment of arrears from the fuel subsidy.

The impasse on payments has seen widespread fuel shortages across the country with motorists and bodaboda riders’ queuing for hours on end to obtain the key commodity.