Amidst the controversy over the rising cost of fuel in Kenya, petroleum CS John Munyes got himself on the wrong side after being fined by the National Assembly Committee on Finance Ksh 500,000 for failing to appear before the committee to answer questions over the rise in fuel prices.
Munyes wrote to the committee that he is in South Sudan on an official duty.
While addressing the matter, the committee’s chairperson Gladys Wanga said their report will show that John Munyes has been uncooperative.
A week ago on Tuesday, the Finance and National Planning Committee which is leading the investigation into the fuel prices in the country was given an additional of seven days to dig into fuel costings criteria.
The committee has been investigating the costing of fuel in the last two weeks and has held face to face meetings with 10 shareholders including the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Treasury and the Ministry of Petroleum as well as receiving written submissions.
The probe by the committee originated from a petition which sought to vacate value added tax (VAT) from the costing of fuel products as a means to bring relief to Kenyans.
Fuel costs hit the headlines once more on September 14 as EPRA effected an unprecedented hike to fuel costs sending costs pasts Ksh. 135 per liter across the country.
Petroleum CS John Munyes earlier ruled out any fuel price reduction, blaming the National Treasury for failing to release Ksh. 24 billion meant for price stabilization.