Nairobi, June 3 -- Fuel is not merely a commodity consumed at the pump. It is a strategic enabler of productivity, trade, mobility, food security, manufacturing, and public service delivery. When its price rises sharply, every sector of the economy as well as every household feels the strain.

Earlier this month, petrol in Nairobi rose to Sh214.25 per litre and diesel climbed to a historic Sh242.92 per litre. The immediate reaction from transport operators, businesses, and consumers reflected the central role fuel plays in determining both the cost of living and the cost of doing business.

The government's subsequent engagement with stakeholders and measures aimed at easing diesel prices were therefore timely and welcome, but it was a re...