Public Service Vehicle operators in Kisumu have cried foul over the hiking of fuel prices by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC ).
According to them, the new prices are going to impact negatively on their transport business.
"The new fuel prices are going to make us lose some of our customers more if we hike transport charges," said one of the operators at Kondele-Kisumu-Kakamega stage.
Ben Wafula who plies matatus that operate Town Service route says they may be forced to hike the bus fare to counter the new prices failure to which the will get into squabbles with their employers.
"We have so many challenges as far as the new fuel prices are concerned, if we don’t hike the fare it will mean that the owners of the matatus we operate won’t be happy with the evening returns."
On the other hand, residents complained that the new fuel prices will lead to an increase in the prices of essential goods.
"The truth of the matter is that business people will use the prices to their advantage hence an increase in the price of essential products like unga, milk, bread just to name a few not forgetting increment of the transport cost," complained Catherine Atieno a vender in Kibuye Market.
The new prices announced by the Energy Regulatory Commission has seen the prices of super petrol increasing by Sh4.26 per litre, that of diesel by Sh5.03 per litre, while that of kerosene increasing by Sh3.75 per litre.