Leaders in Kisumu County have urged residents to maintain peace and avoid street protests over the rising fuel prices, saying dialogue with the national government remains the best approach to resolving the crisis.
Speaking at the Kisumu County Assembly, Speaker Elisha Oraro read a statement on behalf of the House in which county leaders acknowledged the growing public concern over the high cost of fuel and the rising cost of living.
The assembly said the concerns raised by Kenyans were legitimate and required urgent intervention, noting that the situation had been worsened by the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, which has disrupted global fuel markets.
“These concerns are legitimate and deserve urgent attention. Despite being a global challenge occasioned by the ongoing US-Iran war, we wish to reiterate the statement made by our ODM party Leader and our Honourable Senator Dr Oburu Odinga that as a party we are actively engaging the relevant government agencies and stakeholders to seek domestic interventions and practical solutions aimed at easing the burden,” Oraro said.
The Speaker said leaders from the region had resolved to pursue consultations and dialogue instead of mobilising demonstrations, even as calls for protests continue in different parts of the country.
“We have chosen not to go to the streets and we still want to persuade our people that even as the calls continue, let us proceed with our work. Let us not go to the streets because everybody is aware that we have gone to the streets for a long time. Let us choose another path and the path that we are using is dialogue,” he said.
The assembly further commended residents of Kisumu and the larger Nyanza region for what it termed as restraint, maturity and commitment to peace’ during recent calls for demonstrations over the fuel crisis.
According to the statement, residents’ decision to remain calm and continue with their daily activities reflected the region’s commitment to stability and constructive engagement in addressing national issues.
The House assured residents that leaders in the region would continue pushing for policies aimed at protecting wananchi from the harsh economic conditions while safeguarding peace and unity.
“We remain committed to advocating for policies that protect the welfare of our people while ensuring peace and unity prevail across the region and the county at large,” Oraro said.
The county assembly also urged residents to continue upholding law and order to create room for consultations between political leaders and government agencies on possible interventions to cushion Kenyans from the escalating fuel costs.
The statement comes amid growing public anxiety over rising fuel prices and their ripple effect on the cost of transport, food and other basic commodities across the country.
By Chris Mahandara
