Acute fuel shortage is again hitting the country forcing residents to pay as much as Ksh 300 per litre.
Lamu County motorists are victims of the shortage of the commodity. Reports show that some areas including Hindi and Mokowe have seen the prices of fuel per litre double over the last four days.
Lamu Mainland Bodaboda Operators Association chairman Peter Musembi expressed worry over the situation claiming many operators have opted out of business as they can no longer afford to keep up with the costly fuel prices.
Most petrol stations in the area have since closed down for lack of the precious commodity.
“We’re really suffering as bodaboda operators. It is now almost a week since the shortage began,” reiterated Musembi.
“The few dealers with the fuel, sell it at awkward prices. How can you buy a liter of petrol for Sh200 or Sh300 while we normally buy it at Sh140 or Sh120?” he told the Nation.
Mohamed Omar, a petrol dealer operating in the area, blamed the fuel shortage on suppliers who no longer supply them with fuel.
“The suppliers don’t bring us the fuel anymore and we have to make extra effort to get a little supply and when we do, it’s normally very expensive.
“We have to sell it at that same high cost if we intend to make any profit, it’s not deliberate and if things change, we lower the price too,” Omar explained.
The cause of the shortage still remains unclear despite its far-reaching consequences continuing to cripple transport in Lamu County.