Nairobi, April 14 -- A litre of petrol is retailing at up to Sh450 in Ilbisil and Mali Tisa towns in Kajiado County amid allegations that some petrol station owners are hoarding fuel, triggering an artificial shortage that is crippling transport.

Motorists say the situation has nearly paralysed movement along sections of the Namanga Highway, with boda boda operators and drivers forced to queue for hours over the past two days.

The shortage comes against the backdrop of global oil market pressures linked to the Israel-Iran conflict and currency fluctuations, which have strained supply chains.

However, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) maintains that pump prices remain unchanged for the period between March 15 and Apri...