Fuel price crisis sparks regional debate as Tanzania challenges President Ruto’s narrative

Comments from the president of Kenya, William Ruto, on fuel prices in East Africa may have engendered some friction in the region, as Tanzania recently gave a dramatic response.

• Kenyan President William Ruto commented that higher fuel prices in Kenya are due to its middle-income economy and extensive road network.
• Ruto asserted that Kenya's road infrastructure surpasses that of all other East African countries.
• Tanzania's Minister for Works, Abdallah Ulega, responded by disputing Ruto's claims, stating Tanzania's road network was comparable.
• Ulega clarified that Tanzania is also a lower-middle-income country and provided statistics to challenge Kenya's asserted infrastructural superiority.

Ruto’s remarks were recently publicly challenged by Tanzania's Minister for Works, Abdallah Ulega, concerning claims about regional infrastructure dominance.

Ruto’s comments

Speaking at a church gathering in Karen on April 19, Ruto addressed growing public frustration over surging fuel costs, attributing the trend to Kenya’s economic standing.

He argued that Kenya, as a middle-income country, faces steeper fuel price adjustments compared to its lower-income neighbours, such as Tanzania and Uganda.

“I know many people in Kenya keep asking why it is that sometimes the prices of fuel are different in Kenya from those in our neighbours.

Kenya is a middle-income country. Our neighbours are the least developed countries. There is a big difference.

If you want to compare Kenya fairly with others, compare Kenya with other middle-income countries,” he stated.

Ruto also mentioned that Kenya's extensive road network, which includes over 20,000 kilometers of asphalt roads, requires major maintenance, which is supported by fuel taxes.

He claimed that Kenya's road system outperforms that of the other East African countries.

Tanzania’s response

As mentioned earlier, Tanzania's Works Minister, Abdallah Ulega, promptly reacted, claiming that Tanzania remained on par with Kenya in terms of economic progress and infrastructure.

He pointed out that Tanzania's road network is equivalent in size, disputing Ruto's assertion of overwhelming regional superiority.

DON'T MISS THIS: 10 African countries with the highest fuel prices in April 2026

"It should be known that Tanzania also is a developing country and lower middle-income in the East African region. We are with our Kenyan neighbours,” Ulega stated.

“Secondly, Tanzania has a total of 16,000 kilometres worth of tarmac road network, both in rural and urban areas. When you add Kenya and Tanzania's road networks, you get about 22,000 km. So the statistics given about all East African countries not surpassing Kenya in road network is not true," he added.

Fuel prices in some East African countries

In Kenya, recent revisions saw petrol prices rise by 16.1 percent to KSh206.97 per litre, while diesel increased by 24.2 percent to KSh206.84, as seen on Tuko.

Kerosene prices remained constant at KSh152.78. These rises have pushed Kenya to the top of the region's fuel price rankings.

By comparison, Rwanda's petrol prices hover just above KSh203 per litre, while diesel costs around KSh195.

Tanzania and Uganda continue to be substantially cheaper, with fuel averaging around KSh189 per litre in Tanzania and approximately KSh185 for petrol and KSh174 for diesel in Uganda.