The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Committee caused a stir among Kenyans after announcing new prices fuel prices that would make Kenyans dig dipper in their pockets.
EPRA announced a rise of up to Kshs17 in the cost of the petrol and petroleum products on September 14.
It has now been established that a few members of parliament are behind the sharp rise of the fuel prices, a move that was calculated about two years ago.
MPs allied to Deputy President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga have been exposed for forcing other MPs to impose the 8% VAT tax on petroleum products.
A report by the standard Newspaper indicated that on September 20, 2018, Aden Dual who was by then the majority leader staged a spirited bid to push through President Uhuru Kenyatta’s proposal to impose 8 per cent VAT on petroleum products, two years ahead of schedule.
The Debate was seconded by minority leader John Mbadi and presided over by Narok MP Soipan Tuya. When Duale gave the proposal in parliament, Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba tried to interrupt him but felt the full wrath of “the majority”, as Duale was commonly known.
“You know I have never been in the teachers’ union, so I do not panic. And I have enough shocks. So, Hon. Milemba, I am not the Teachers Service Commission Chief Executive Officer who you could intimidate. I am the Member for Garissa Township,” he told him.
Kenyans took to social media urging members of parliament to reject the bill as others urged activist Okiya Omtata to take the matter to court.
Duale however proceeded with his bill while saying that the president had heard Kenyan’s cries in reducing the 16% VAT to 8% while dismissing claims that the fuel prices will spike if the MPs will agree with the president.
“So, this notion that if we put 8 per cent, tomorrow the bus that plies Garissa to Nairobi will charge Kshs1,000 should stop. The moment this becomes law, ERC will determine the only transferable cost payable by passengers or any other sector of the economy,” Duale said.
When ODM’s John Mbadi rose to second Duale , he was drowned in jeers saying ‘zero , zero . He could not be heard as he was swimming against the current.
“You now see why these Members come here and when they leave, they do not even know what they passed. They are shouting “zero” instead of engaging in debate.”
After a heated debate and opposing, voting and recounting of votes speaker Justin Muturi ruled that the bill was passed.
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