By Abdullahi Jamaa | Wajir Today | Monday, May 18, 2026
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, who also chairs the Council of Governors, said on Monday that global geopolitical tensions were driving up fuel prices and urged the national government to consider further relief measures for consumers.
He made the remarks during the launch of the Last Mile Connectivity electrification programme for Bulla Kisumu and neighbouring settlements in Wajir County, an event he attended alongside Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi.
The governor’s comments come amid ongoing protests over high fuel prices in parts of the county, where residents have expressed concern about the rising cost of living and the knock-on effects on transport and basic goods.
Abdullahi said the current increase in petroleum prices was being driven by global factors beyond Kenya’s control, pointing to geopolitical tensions and “supremacy battles” in the Middle East as key contributors to instability in international oil markets.
“Even in oil producing countries today, oil prices and petroleum prices have shifted significantly, and these are the vagaries of irresponsible politics by the powers that be in the world,” he said.
He added that Kenya, like other importing countries, was bearing the impact of global price fluctuations despite government efforts to cushion consumers.
“The geopolitics of the Middle East and the supremacy battles is what is causing this for all of us,” he said.
The governor noted that the government had already attempted to ease the burden on consumers through tax adjustments, including reductions in value-added tax on fuel products, but said more could still be done to reduce pressure on households.
“I think it’s time to give hope to the people that the government will go back to the drawing board and see what further measures it can take to reduce that pain of the pump price to the common man,” he said.
He suggested that temporary suspension of additional taxation on petroleum products could be considered, arguing that fuel prices have wide-ranging effects across the economy.
“Even if it means temporarily suspending more taxation on oil products, because this has an effect on everything that goes around,” he said.
Abdullahi said higher fuel prices were affecting multiple sectors, warning that sustained increases would deepen economic pressure on households and businesses.
“It has an effect on industry, on consumption, on transportation, you name it,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the national government would respond to public concerns, saying it was attentive to the pressures facing citizens during the current economic period.
“We know that as a responsible government, the national government will do everything possible and is hearing the Kenyan common man during this very difficult time,” he said, addressing Wandayi directly.
