Gladys Boss Shollei, the deputy speaker of the national assembly found herself under fire after she was asked to substantiate her remarks on the difference in fuel pricing in Kenya and Uganda.
Shollei was questioned on her prior statements where she had stated that fuel prices in Uganda were higher than the prices in Kenya yet Ugandans were not demonstrating like their Kenyan counterparts
When confronted with facts that reveal that her price quotations were untrue and fuel in Uganda was cheaper, the politician cautioned the journalist to refrain from quoting bits of her statement as the meaning gets distorted in the process.
In her defense, Shollei stated that she was comparing the prices to try and explain why inflation was a problem. She explained that one of the measures of curbing inflation was being honest with Kenyans about the root cause of the inflation.
The Uasin Gishu women representative proceeded to educate Kenyans stating that the country had no control over the fuel prices since it does not produce its own.
“I agree that Kenyans are hurting. Fuel prices have gone up because of the oil market worldwide. There’s nothing we can do about it; we’re at the mercy of OPEC and can only pray that we’re able to produce our oil someday.” she explained.
The Deputy Speaker is part of the Kenya Kwanza brigade defending the steep increase of fuel as Kenyans continue to struggle with the high cost of living and increased unemployment.
Her interview comes days after fuel prices in Kenya went up yet again, shattering the previous record set in the September-October period.
A liter of petrol has increased by 5.72 Kenyan shillings ($0.04), while diesel has gone up by Ksh4.48 ($0.03). Kerosene, on the other hand, has hiked by Ksh2.45 ($0.02).
The new prices, which will be in effect between October 15 and November 14, were announced on Saturday by Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Kenyans on X, descended on the comment section to air out their dissapointments.
@FreelancerDavi, “Ujinga tu”
@Dicksonochora, “Gladys, stop defending the undefendable. There is no way you can tax to caution against price increases of the same product you’re taxing. Watu si wajinga bwanaaa.”