By Boniface Harrison – Executive Director, MuemAction Post
We share in the ongoing crisis caused by the nationwide transport operators protest in Kenya over the sudden hike in fuel prices. The effects have been immediate and far reaching. Businesses have shut down, schools have been disrupted in some areas, and patients in both rural and urban areas are struggling to access hospitals. Many commuters have been stranded at stages unable to reach work or return home. There is widespread disruption across all sectors, resulting in billions in economic losses.
As a country whose transport sector consumes more than 75 percent of all imported petroleum products and depends heavily on diesel and petrol, there is an urgent need for government intervention. Without immediate cushioning measures, such shockswill destabilise livelihoods, increase unemployment and deepen poverty, especially among low income households affected by high transport costs and food inflation. We further caution the government against addressing such matters with more political considerations than evidence based and people centred solutions, because doing so may escalate a lawful civil act of protest into wider and unintended consequences that could undermine national stability.
However beyond the immediate challenge, we must also confront a deeper crisis. Petroleum is a leading source of carbon emissions in our environment. These emissions contribute to respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis, and also worsen cardiovascular conditions. They further intensify global warming, leading to extreme heat that affects health, agriculture and productivity.
This challenge is worsened by poorly maintained public transport systems and inefficient vehicles, which increase fuel consumption and emissions. It is also concerning that many households, especially in low income urban areas still rely on kerosene, charcoal and firewood for cooking and lighting, exposing families to harmful smoke.
According to the State of the Global Air Report, indoor air pollution claimed about 26,300 lives in Kenya, making it one of the leading causes of premature deaths, surpassing malaria and HIV combined. This highlights the urgent need for a culture change toward cleaner and more sustainable energy use.
Therefore, we recommend strong government intervention through subsidies and tax incentives for electric mobility, including electric motorcycles and buses. Electric mobility would also reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, which cost the country close to USD 500 million per month. We also call for increased support for clean cooking solutions such as LPG, biogas and electric cooking technologies.
Kenya has strong renewable energy potential from hydroelectric power generated from our rivers, geothermal power from the Rift Valley, wind energy in Turkana, and solar energy across more than 60 percent of the country’s land area. It is therefore time to shift from overreliance on petroleum and volatile global supply chains toward homegrown energy solutions that are within our control.
This shift is also necessary to reduce overdependence on external and unstable supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, geopolitical disruptions linked to conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, and costly government to government arrangements that often expose the country to unpredictable price shocks.
A culture change is urgently needed, one that embraces clean energy, sustainable transport and responsible consumption. If acted upon, Kenya can reduce costs, save lives and create green jobs. If ignored, the consequences will continue to affect future generations.
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