Nairobi, Kenya – Kenya has incurred an estimated additional $143 million to $150 million in oil costs within the first 60 days of the Iran war, according to new analysis released by climate advocacy group 350.org.
The group says the spike in global oil prices has placed a heavy burden on ordinary citizens and businesses, warning that continued reliance on fossil fuels exposes economies to costly external shocks.
Speaking during a media briefing in Nairobi, 350.org East Africa called on governments across Kenya and the wider East African region to prioritize public investment in decentralized renewable energy systems to shield communities from volatile energy markets and climate-related impacts.
The estimates show that the extra $150 million spent on oil alone does not account for wider economic consequences such as rising gas prices, inflation, higher food costs, and reduced economic productivity. Campaigners say the actual damage is therefore likely much higher. According to the analysis, the amount lost in additional oil costs could instead finance solar energy access for approximately 150,000 Kenyan households.
The briefing coincided with the launch of the global “We Pay, They Profit” campaign, a flagship initiative spearheaded by 350.org and partners across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. The campaign seeks to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels while advocating for affordable and accessible clean energy solutions.
Rukiya Khamis, Programme Manager for 350.org East Africa, criticized what she described as a system that rewards fossil fuel corporations while consumers bear the burden of rising energy costs.
“It is a staggering injustice that fossil fuel corporations are once again posting record-breaking profits while families struggle to keep the lights on,” she said.
Khamis added that the campaign is aimed at ending what she termed as “forced dependence” on fossil fuels, while redirecting resources into a cleaner and fairer renewable energy system.
Power Shift Africa Senior Climate Advisor Amos Wemanya said the continued dominance of fossil fuels is both environmentally and economically unsustainable.
“The fossil fuel era is not just ecologically unsustainable, it is economically indefensible. A transition to decentralized renewables is the surest investment of our generation, delivering cheaper energy, millions of jobs, and real resilience,” he said.
Earlier findings by 350.org projected that rising oil and gas prices could cost the global economy between $600 billion and $1 trillion by the end of 2026.
The organization also estimates that households worldwide shoulder an additional $12 trillion annually in hidden fossil fuel costs, including subsidies, tax breaks, health impacts, and climate-related damages.
350.org Head of Campaigns and Networks Savio Carvalho said reducing dependence on fossil fuels remains the most effective way to protect consumers from future price shocks.
“The lesson is clear: the less reliant we are on fossil fuels, the more protected ordinary people are from price shocks,” Carvalho said.
As energy costs continue to rise, campaigners argue that East Africa has an opportunity to invest in resilient, community-centered renewable systems that can lower costs and improve long-term energy security.
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