Gachagua Gives Ruto 7-Day Ultimatum, Warns of Mass Protests Over Fuel Price Saga

The United Opposition has called for a special sitting of the National Assembly, demanding urgent action over the controversial government-to-government (G-to-G) fuel deal.

The coalition is pushing for the deal to be outlawed, while also accusing President William Ruto of allegedly benefiting from the latest rise in fuel prices.

Speaking during a press briefing in Karen, Nairobi, on Wednesday, April 15, opposition leaders issued a strong statement that was read by DCP Party leader Rigathi Gachagua.

In the statement, the opposition demanded the immediate resignation of Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui.

Gachagua said the opposition had received what he described as “intelligence from concerned Kenyans” regarding the fuel pricing issue that surfaced during the Easter holiday period.

According to him, President Ruto personally stepped in and overruled an earlier emergency fuel importation decision that had reportedly involved former Kenya Pipeline Company MD Joe Sang, former EPRA officials, and former Petroleum PS Liban Mohamed.

He further alleged that although the three international firms in the G-to-G deal work through six local oil marketing companies, the real individuals behind the scandal had been hidden from the public.

Gachagua directly named President Ruto, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, CS Wandayi, and a local oil company as the alleged key players in the scheme.

According to the opposition leader, on the night of April 5 and 6, 2026, President Ruto allegedly sent a high-level delegation to Dubai to renegotiate fuel prices with the international oil suppliers.

The team, he claimed, was led by CS Wandayi and included acting EPRA CEO Eng. Joseph Oketje, senior government officials, and Gulf Energy, which he described as a proxy company linked to the President.

Gachagua claimed this Dubai meeting explains why CS Wandayi was absent when Parliament summoned him, saying he was instead involved in talks meant to restructure fuel prices in a way that would allegedly secure profits for the President.

In one of the most explosive claims made during the press conference, Gachagua linked the latest EPRA fuel review to personal gains for President Ruto.

Following the new fuel prices announced on April 14, 2026, petrol rose by KSh28.69 per litre while diesel increased by KSh40.30 per litre.

Gachagua alleged that from this new pricing formula, President Ruto earns KSh5 from every litre of fuel consumed in Kenya and across the region.

He claimed that based on an estimated 500 million litres expected to be supplied, the President would make around KSh2.5 billion from the latest pricing adjustment alone.

He went even further, alleging that since the G-to-G fuel agreement began, President Ruto has already pocketed nearly KSh30 billion in profits from petroleum supply across the region.

The opposition is now demanding a complete review of several government financial policies. Among the key proposals is the suspension of the KSh5 trillion National Infrastructure Fund (NIF).

They want proceeds from the sale of government stakes in Safaricom PLC and the Kenya Pipeline Company redirected to cushion Kenyans from the harsh economic effects of rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of living.

On tax relief, the opposition also wants the immediate suspension of the road maintenance levy, which was recently increased from KSh18 to KSh25 per litre. They further demanded the suspension of the 3 per cent affordable housing levy, saying it continues to overburden already struggling Kenyans.

In addition, the coalition called for the suspension of what it termed as unfair and excessive NSSF deductions. According to them, these deductions are punitive and are allegedly being used to finance single-sourced government infrastructure projects linked to President Ruto’s administration.

The opposition also insisted that Parliament must urgently remove VAT on all fuel products, arguing that such a move would immediately lower transport and commodity prices across the country.

Gachagua said these demands form the opposition’s irreducible minimum and warned that failure by President Ruto and Parliament to act within seven days would trigger nationwide action.

He ended with a strong warning, saying that if no immediate steps are taken, the opposition will mobilize Kenyans and announce mass action measures to force both the President and the National Assembly to act in the best interests of the people.

The latest remarks are expected to further intensify political tensions in the country, especially at a time when many households are already struggling with the rising cost of fuel, transport, food, and other basic commodities.

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