A panel discussion hosted by Citizen TV Wednesday night almost went South after Trade CS Moses Kuria was put on the spot over the cost of unga and cooking oil.
The CS insisted the cost of the two basic consumer products had drastically come down with oil retailing at an average of Sh230-Sh240 a litre since the Kenya Kwanza government took office, figures that conflicted things on the ground.
A spot check on live TV indicated that the cost of different brands of edible oil at a supermarket in Eldoret, for instance, ranged between Sh307 to Sh355 per litre, something Kuria vehemently dismissed.
"Don't forget there is somebody who is watching you from a supermarket, so be careful," the CS fired back at moderator Sam Gituku.
"Let's take cooking oil for example. It's much lower than what you project there and Kenyans know that," he added.
The station had given a projection of oil prices which indicated a drop from an average of Sh450 per litre in September 2022 but pointed out that the current prices were still higher than what the CS was giving.
Kuria was livid, claiming the figures were falsified and were being backed by a skewed panel.
He said if the station had bothered to be factual, they would have checked to confirm, prices of cooking oil were much lower in Ruiru.
"It's not even to the level you have said, it's by 50 per cent since we came to government," he said.
On sugar, Gituku put it across to the CS that a 2kg packet of sugar ranges from Sh420 to Sh500 and asked him to clarify what the government held was the 'true' price estimate.
Kuria said sugar prices were subject to confirmation and would require a TV crew to make calls to various supermarkets in the city to get an accurate figure but quickly added that he was sure oil prices were much lower than was projected.
He said prices being talked about were mere opinions to which the station was entitled but "facts are stubborn and universal".
"Well, I'm just saying let us reconfirm that but I know for sure that edible oil is much much lower than that, anyway, I digress. I'm just asking you because I have seen you inciting Kenyans...the problem with you and that is why your Azimio lost...you are consistent with getting it wrong," he said.