Kenyan President William Ruto has defended the country’s fuel prices, arguing that comparisons with neighboring states often ignore key economic and infrastructure realities.
Speaking in a recent address, Ruto said many Kenyans frequently question why fuel costs in Kenya are sometimes higher than in nearby countries. He insisted the issue must be understood within a broader context.
“I know many people in Kenya keep asking… why is it that sometimes prices of fuel are different in Kenya from our neighbors,” Ruto said. “It’s important for people to know three things.”
First, the president pointed to Kenya’s economic status, saying it should not be compared with lower-income economies in the region.
“Kenya is a middle-income country. Our neighbors are least developed countries. There’s a big difference,” he said. “If you want to compare Kenya fairly with others, compare Kenya with other middle-income countries.”
Ruto argued that such economies typically face higher costs, including fuel prices, due to broader fiscal and development demands.
He then linked fuel pricing to infrastructure investment, particularly the country’s road network. According to the president, revenue tied to fuel plays a role in maintaining and expanding transport systems.
“Our fuel supports transport infrastructure,” he said. “We have 20,000 kilometers of tarmac to maintain, and we have 6,000 kilometers of tarmac under construction.”
Ruto claimed Kenya’s road network exceeds that of several neighboring countries combined.
“The 20,000 kilometers we have in Kenya is actually more than all the tarmac in countries like Uganda, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan combined,” he said.
He added that the 6,000 kilometers currently under construction are “equivalent to all the tarmac in our neighboring country, which has been built for 60 years.”
Looking ahead, the president outlined ambitious plans to further expand the road network.
“We want to do another 28,000 kilometers of tarmac in the next seven years,” Ruto said, framing the plan as part of a broader development agenda.
Invoking a metaphor to emphasize growth, he told the audience: “Transformation is not about making peace with mediocrity. It’s about expanding our horizon of thinking.”
The remarks come amid ongoing public debate over the rising cost of living in Kenya, where fuel prices play a central role in transportation and commodity costs.
Ruto’s comments signal the government’s position that higher fuel prices are tied not only to global market forces, but also to domestic development priorities, particularly large-scale infrastructure projects.
