Ndii Explains Why Kenya Has Costliest Fuel Prices in East Africa
On Thursday, April 18, David Ndii, the chief economic advisor to President William Ruto, justified the elevated fuel costs in Kenya.
Following a report by a national newspaper, it was revealed that despite recent price reductions, fuel in Kenya still maintains its position as the most expensive among East African nations.
Ndii, in support of Ruto’s government, argued that the elevated fuel costs played a crucial role in financing the developmental objectives.
“Kenya has one of the largest, densest, and well-maintained road networks in Africa, paid for with fuel levy funds,” he stated.
The economist cautioned detractors of the government that they shouldn’t anticipate progress without being prepared to meet its costs.
“There are no free lunches. Public goods are paid for,” he stated.
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Kenya ranks third in Africa for its extensive road infrastructure, encompassing an impressive network of 177,800 kilometers of roads.
This is surpassed only by South Africa, which has a road network stretching 750,000 kilometers, and Nigeria, with 177,800 kilometers of roads.
Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are the sole additional East African Community (EAC) nations included in the top 10 rankings, with distances of 159,366 kilometers and 153,373 kilometers, respectively.
In May 2023, President William Ruto clarified that his government had increased the fuel tax from 8 percent to 16 percent to generate funds for infrastructure projects.
He mentioned that his administration faced a challenging endeavor of securing more than Ksh600 billion, a commitment made by the previous leader, to fund multiple road projects.
“If I have to complete these projects, I need money. Everywhere I go, Kenyans tell me they need roads,” he stated then.
Ndii Explains Why Kenya Has Costliest Fuel Prices in East Africa