Octopizzo could no longer afford to keep quiet after the government increased the price of kerosine by Ksh15.19 per litre.
The Energy & Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced new fuel prices for the period between May 15, 2023, and June 14, 2023.
The retail prices for super petrol, diesel and kerosene increased by Ksh3.40 per litre, Ksh6.40 per litre and Ksh15.19 per litre respectively. The subsidy on diesel and kerosene has been removed.
As a result, the new price per litre of super petrol, diesel and kerosene in Nairobi is now Ksh182.70, Ksh168.40 and Ksh161.13 respectively.
“The fuel prices are inclusive of the 8% Value Added Tax (VAT) in line with the provisions of the Finance Act 2018, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2020 and the revised rates for excise duty adjusted for inflation as per Legal Notice No. 194 of 2020,” EPRA said in a notice.
The increase in kerosine price has adversely affected poor families in the ghettos like Kibera which uses the fuel for cooking.
Octopizzo, who grew up in Kibera slums, was forced to speak up against the fuel price increase – lamenting that the people in Kibera were really suffering,
“@WilliamsRuto Bana jo punguza mafuta ya taa aka Kerosine. @OleItumbi bonga na mzae Kibera tunaumia bana Jo. #Kerosine #HighCostOfLiving Yours truly Mr OHANGA,” Octopizzo tweeted.
@WilliamsRuto Bana jo punguza mafuta ya taa aka Kerosine.@OleItumbi bonga na mzae Kibera tunaumia bana Jo.#Kerosine #HighCostOfLiving
Yours truly Mr OHANGA pic.twitter.com/0VlhVAD5ht— OCTOPIZZO (@OCTOPIZZO) May 16, 2023
Eric Omondi has been the only celebrity raising his voice against the ever increasing cost of living in Kenya before Octopizzo came out to complain about the increase in fuel prices.
The comedian has been arrested multiple times in Nairobi and Kisumu while protesting against the high cost of living.
Related: Watch Eric Omondi block traffic on Lang’ata Road to distribute unga
