Fuel Shortages in Kenya as Government Delays Subsidy Payment
- Government yet to pay fuel marketers $113 million for subsidy
- Subsidy program left fuel prices unchanged for five months
Motorists queue for fuel at a gas station in Nakuru, Kenya, on April 4.
Photographer: James Wakibia/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
This article is for subscribers only.
Queues at gas stations in Kenya grew longer over the weekend as delayed payments of subsidies meant to stabilize fuel prices led to gasoline shortages across the East African nation.
The government said it is yet to pay about 13 billion shillings ($113 million) to oil-marketing companies to keep prices from rising further, with the cost of gasoline already at the highest in a decade. Petroleum and Mining Principal Secretary Andrew Kamau said there is sufficient stock and attributed the shortage to panic buying after some companies curbed supply last week.