These Are Not Easy Decisions to scrap them! Ruto Speaks on Fuel Taxes and Levies.

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]Oil importers faced intense pressure to secure US dollars within short timelines driving rapid depreciation of the Kenya shilling and threatening fuel supply stability.

[00:00:16]By easing pressure on foreign exchange demand and ensuring predictable supply terms the framework has protected the economy during the crisis as the one we have now.

[00:00:33]Without it the country's situation I tell you would be much worse.

[00:00:40]And I want you people to talk to oil marketers.

[00:00:46]They will explain to you the kind of situation that was there in 2022 when we had a crisis like the one we have.

[00:00:57]Without a guaranteed supply without the framework we have built there would be a major crisis of foreign currency and there would be a major crisis of supply.

[00:01:15]The G to G arrangement has guaranteed supply even when we have disruptions and has also made it possible for us to pay on terms that does not put pressure on our dollar reserves.

[00:01:31]I know there are those who are trying to turn this global crisis into politics.

[00:01:37]People seeking to exploit public pain for political gain making reckless claims and pretending there are easy options.

[00:01:50]But leadership requires honesty not political opportunism or playing populist politics.

[00:01:58]The reality is that no country can completely escape the global oil shock of this magnitude.

[00:02:07]Even advanced economies with far greater financial resources than Kenya are facing similar challenges.

[00:02:17]There are those asking government to remove all taxes and levies on fuel immediately.

[00:02:25]But we must ask ourselves honestly, if we stop collecting these revenues entirely, what public services shall we stop funding?

[00:02:36]Do we go back to the spectacle of stalled road projects that had become a hallmark across our country?

[00:02:46]Do we stop the fertilizer subsidy that is enhancing food security?

[00:02:52]Do we cut the security budget that helps us secure our borders, combat criminal gangs, and protect citizens?

[00:03:03]Surely, our hospitals and schools must continue to function.

[00:03:09]And we must continue to fund them.

[00:03:12]These are not easy decisions.

[00:03:17]Leadership requires us to make responsible decisions not only for today, but also for the long-term stability of our economy and our country.

[00:03:30]Because we do not know how long this crisis will continue, or whether prices may even rise further in the months ahead, we must act with care, responsibility, and sustainability in our mind.

[00:03:49]Fellow citizens, every nation facing this crisis is being forced to make sacrifices.

[00:03:58]Kenya, too, is making sacrifices.

[00:04:02]But, they must be fair, responsible, and sustainable.

[00:04:09]Our responsibility as government is to solve today's problem without creating a bigger problem tomorrow.

[00:04:18]Our duty is to protect Kenyan families today while ensuring long-term stability of our economy.

[00:04:27]That is why government continues to review every possible measure to reduce pressure on citizens while safeguarding the economic stability of our country.

[00:04:39]We are engaging stakeholders across the transport sector, agriculture, industry, and business community to develop practical interventions aimed at reducing the impact on livelihoods and economic activity.

[00:04:54]This crisis is also a reminder that Kenya must never remain permanently vulnerable to external oil shocks and conflicts happening thousands of kilometers away from our borders.

[00:05:08]Therefore, the government of Kenya, working together with our East African partner states, and the private sector, is determined to bring into production our oil