Kenya is facing a significant fuel price surge, prompting concern that the nation is paying more for fuel than its landlocked neighbours like Uganda and Rwanda, despite having coastal access and established infrastructure.

• The disparity points to domestic policy choices, excessive taxation, and inefficiencies within the supply chain, rather than solely global price pressures.
• Key factors include a heavy burden of taxes and levies on fuel, and an opaque supply chain, including the Government-to-Government (G-to-G) framework, which appears to prioritize supply continuity over affordability.
• This situation undermines Kenya's ambition as an East African economic hub by increasing operational costs for businesses and eroding citizens' disposable income.