President Ruto: Fuel crisis is not affecting Kenya alone

Añadido: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]I fully understand the frustration and the burden this has placed on households and on the cost of living across the country.

[00:00:11]As president, I want to speak to you honestly and directly about why this is happening, what the government is doing, and why we must face this challenge together as one nation.

[00:00:28]The truth is this.

[00:00:30]Kenya is facing the effects of global fuel crisis caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

[00:00:39]This is not a crisis affecting Kenya alone.

[00:00:42]Countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas are all struggling with rising fuel prices, fuel shortages, and disruptions in supply.

[00:00:56]Since the conflict involving Iran escalated on the 28th of February 2026, the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil supply routes, through which nearly 1/5 or 20% of global oil passes every day, has experienced major disruption.

[00:01:21]This has created one of the largest global oil supply shocks in modern history.

[00:01:29]Within just weeks, global fuel prices rose sharply, with increases and prices increasing by 54% for super petrol, 118% for diesel, and 126.4% for kerosene.

[00:01:50]These increases directly affect the landed cost of fuel imported into Kenya and ultimately impacted pump prices across the country.

[00:02:03]The World Bank now projects that global energy prices will rise by 24% in 2026 alone while the International Energy Agency has warned that global market may remain undersupplied until late 2026 or beyond.

[00:02:27]Fellow citizens, this is not a Kenyan problem alone.

[00:02:33]Around the world, governments are introducing emergency measures to manage rising fuel costs, supply disruptions, and pressure on the cost of living.

[00:02:47]Some countries are now experiencing actual fuel shortages and rationing.

[00:02:54]Others have encouraged citizens to work from home in order to reduce fuel consumption while some have reduced working days.