KenolKobil had predicted a review of up to Sh6 but Energy PS Patrick Nyoike dismissed this projection as reckless.. Photo/FILE

Petroleum pump prices have risen for the sixth month in a row, spelling tough times ahead for Kenyans.
The new prices released on Saturday saw Super petrol go up by Sh4.20 with diesel prices up by Sh2.60. Kerosene, which is widely used in households went up by Sh3.90.
This means that in the past two months alone, pump prices have gone up by Sh13 on the basis of a price control regulation introduced in the market in December last year.
Motorists in Nairobi will from Sunday pay up to Sh115.35 per litre of Super petrol up from Sh111.20.
In Mombasa, motorists will pay Sh112.09 for a litre of Super petrol while in Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu the same will cost Sh116.43, Sh117.54 and Sh117.60 respectively.
Those in Mandera will pay Sh127.87 while their counterparts in Lokichoggio will pay Sh124.69.
This comes only days after ministry of Energy officials dismissed projections by oil marketers that the prices would go up.
While the marketer — KenolKobil — had predicted a review of up to Sh6, Energy PS Patrick Nyoike dismissed this projection as reckless.
“The report of prices going up is irresponsible, alarming and reckless. The figure given is based on rocket science. (READ: Ministry clashes with fuel firms over prices)
“I cannot be guided by what KenolKobil said. I do not, however, want to pre-empt what ERC will say,” Mr Nyoike told journalists on Wednesday.
The prices are regulated by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), which is the industry regulator.
Every 30 days, the commission revises the prices based on profit margins, taxation, distribution costs as well as the price of product.
Already the government has made attempts to cushion consumers by lowering excise duty on Diesel and Kerosene.
A further tax relief on Kerosene announced by Prime Minister Raila Odinga last month is awaiting approval by Parliament.
This was to reduce kerosene price by Sh5.66 per litre. This has resulted in calls by consumer federations to the government to make good its promise.
“We are concerned that close to a month later this Motion is yet to be introduced in Parliament,” Mr Stephen Mutoro, secretary general, Consumers Federation of Kenya told the Sunday Nation.