A decision made in the White House this week is set to ripple across the globe, potentially hitting the wallets of Kenyan drivers and challenging the nation's climate ambitions. Former US President Donald Trump, flanked by automotive executives, announced a significant rollback of vehicle fuel-economy standards enacted by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

The move unravels a key climate policy, arguing it will lower car prices for American consumers. However, critics warn this will inevitably lead to higher fuel consumption, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and steeper costs at the pump for drivers everywhere.

The Real Cost at the Pump

The core of the policy shift lies in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. The Biden administration had mandated that automakers' fleets achieve an average of about 50 miles per gallon (approx. 21 kilometres per litre) by 2031. Trump's new proposal slashes this target to around 34.5 miles per gallon (approx. 14.7 kilometres per litre).

The Trump administration claims this will save American families $1,000 (approx. KES 130,000) on the average cost of a new vehicle. However, environmental groups and analysts argue that any upfront savings will be quickly erased by increased spending on fuel. For Kenyans, who are already navigating high fuel prices—with super petrol in Nairobi hovering around KES 184.52 per litre—any policy that increases global oil demand could exert further upward pressure on these costs.

A Ripple Effect on Kenya's Mitumba Market

While the majority of Kenya's vehicle imports are second-hand from Japan and Europe, US market dynamics have a significant influence on the global automotive landscape. A glut of less fuel-efficient American cars could eventually impact the types and costs of vehicles available in the international second-hand market that Kenya relies on.

This development runs contrary to Kenya's own stated goals. The country is actively working to reduce its carbon footprint, with policies aimed at improving vehicle efficiency and promoting a shift to electric mobility. Key objectives include:

• A national target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32% by 2030.
• A commitment to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles.
• Existing regulations, like the eight-year age limit on imported used cars, are designed to curb the influx of older, less efficient, and higher-polluting vehicles.

"Trump is taking a wrecking ball to the biggest single step any nation has ever taken to combat oil use, global warming pollution, and helping save consumers money at the gas pump," Dan Becker, an activist with the Center for Biological Diversity, told AFP.

As the US changes course, it places Kenya at a crossroads. The allure of potentially cheaper imported vehicles in the long term will be weighed against the nation's climate commitments and the undeniable reality of rising costs at the petrol station for millions of Kenyans.