Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.

Israel-Palestine Escalation to Affect Fuel Prices in Kenya, Deputy President Says

19:43, 22 October 2023

Samantha Arias

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On October 7, Palestinian Hamas militants launched an offensive in southern Israel. The Jewish state responded by launching a large-scale military operation against the Gaza-based militants and informed a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, cutting off water, food, electricity, medicine and fuel.

Sputnik

The Deputy President of Kenya, Rigathi Gachagua, said on Saturday that the current escalation of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, will aggravate the fuel price situation in the country.

"Another crisis is manifesting around the Palestinians and Israel, and that is not healthy for fuel," Gachagua said at a meeting with politicians and professionals at the Nyeri Golf Club, as quoted by local media.

Last week, the Kenyan Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) reportedly increased petrol prices by Ksh5.72 per liter ($0.03), diesel by Ksh4.48 ($0.02) and kerosene by Ksh2.45. ($0.01).

Gachagua mentioned that there have been accusations to the government about the rise in prices, but noted that the government is not capable of doing so.

"Many people have accused the government of escalating the cost of fuel. No responsible government can do that," he added.

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According to him, prices in Kenya are similar to neighboring countries in the East African region, which is around Ksh217 ($1.45 ) per liter.

"And again if you check, the price of fuel here per liter is similar to the price per litre in Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda [...] and is the same everywhere," he added.

Furthermore, the deputy president argued against the fuel subsidies in Kenya to stop the increase in prices, adding that the government would have to provide the funds for such an action "from the taxpayer's" purse.

"If we subsidize fuel today, we'll have to collect that money from somewhere, and we will have to add more taxes... so we are saying we cannot subsidize fuel because that money will have to come from somebody, and that money would have to come from the taxpayer" he said. "So the situation is global."

On the morning of October 7, Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Flood of Al-Aqsa, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement.

In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Moreover, the Israeli military took control of all settlements near the Gaza border. It also began airstrikes against targets, including civilian objects, in the territory of the Gaza Strip. At the same time, Israel informed a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, cutting off water, food, electricity, medicine and fuel.