Citizen TV anchor Mashirima Kapombe had just one word for Kenya’s latest fuel price shock.
The popular news presenter took to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday to share her reaction after energy regulators announced steep increases across all petroleum products, effective midnight on October 15.
What did Mashirima say about fuel price hike?
Nairobi residents woke up to petrol priced at KSh 226.96 per litre, up from KSh 214.03, a jump of KSh 12.93.
Diesel followed closely, climbing from KSh 217.86 to KSh 227.76 per litre, a rise of KSh 9.90. Kerosene, which many households rely on for cooking and lighting, recorded the steepest increase, surging by KSh 28.49 to KSh 219.87 per litre.
The government has maintained a reduced Value Added Tax rate on petroleum products, extending it for a further three months through mid-December, but that cushion has done little to soften the blow for ordinary Kenyans.
Analysts point to renewed fighting in the Middle East as the primary driver behind the hikes, with international energy supplies disrupted enough to push refined petroleum prices to their highest levels in over ten years last month.
The knock-on effects are expected to be felt widely. Diesel powers much of the country’s transport network, electricity generation and agricultural activity, meaning the cost of moving goods and producing food is set to rise.
Farmers, manufacturers and service providers are likely to pass those added expenses on to consumers, pushing up the price of everyday items.
Mashirima wrote:
“Wueh.”
Her single-word reaction captured a sentiment shared by many Kenyans scrolling through the news. The anchor, known for her composed on-screen presence, let the numbers do the talking.
