Nyahururu: Boda boda riders in Nyahururu have expressed concern following the latest Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) fuel pump prices review. The riders expressed disappointment that they were expecting the fuel regulatory authority would have gifted them with New Year goodies of low fuel prices. They noted the hike of the fuel prices is not good news for the new year, which they said they are optimistic will be good for doing their boda boda business.
According to Kenya News Agency, EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, in a statement released on Tuesday, said Super Petrol would increase by Ksh.0.29, Diesel by Ksh.2, and Kerosene by Ksh.3 per litre effective January 15 to February 14. A spot check conducted by KNA at various fuel stations in Nyahururu town indicated diesel, petrol, and kerosene at the pumps retailing at Ksh. 167.06, Ksh. 176.58, and 151.39, respectively.
In an interview with the boda boda operators, they observed that though the increase may seem meager at a glance, in the long run, it will negatively affect their pockets. Kelvin Mwangi, a boda boda rider in Nyahururu, observed that when fuel prices rise, their customers do not seem to care and refuse any fare hike; hence they end up with minimal profit from their business. "Our clients will not appreciate that the cost of fuel has gone up so as to dig deeper in their pockets; hence we end up accepting the usual fare, though with minimal returns, which affects the business," said Mwangi.
He further noted that to many boda boda riders, the fuel price hike leads to a daily struggle to keep their business afloat. His counterpart, Raphael Njoki, added that it is challenging to conduct boda boda business when the fuel prices increase, which is worsened when coupled with costs of maintaining the motorbike. He also pointed out that the rising fuel prices contribute to a higher cost of living, with everyday commodities like cooking oil and sugar seeing price increases, further stretching their budgets.
"We are also digging deep into our pockets to purchase spare parts and daily maintenance of our motorbikes, hence taking a heavy toll on our budgets," he noted. The riders are optimistic that the fuel prices will not continue to rise but rather drop to a level favourable for their boda boda business as well cushioning them against economic hardship.
According to EPRA, the increase in petroleum prices was informed by several factors, key among them the increase in the landed cost of imported diesel. However, the landed cost of super petrol and kerosene decreased, despite the upward trend in the latest prices.