Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has alleged a coordinated scheme involving government officials and private sector players to engineer an artificial fuel shortage in Kenya, raising fresh concerns about transparency in the country’s energy sector.
In a series of public statements, Olekina said the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, EPRA, in collaboration with oil marketing companies, manipulated supply dynamics despite what he described as adequate fuel imports into the country.
The Narok senator pointed to what he termed irregularities surrounding the involvement of One Petroleum, a company he said had no prior record of importing petrol motor spirit. According to Olekina, the firm received authorization on 25 April to supply emergency fuel and reportedly delivered within two days.
He questioned the feasibility of such a timeline, citing standard industry procedures that include cargo procurement, financial guarantees, documentation and shipping logistics. Olekina argued that the speed of the transaction suggests prior planning and possible prepositioning of fuel stocks in Mombasa.
Supply and pricing concerns
Olekina named several individuals he believes were involved in the alleged scheme, including officials linked to the Kenya Pipeline Company and the Ministry of Energy, as well as a representative of One Petroleum. He claimed the actions amounted to a premeditated effort to create artificial scarcity in the market.
The senator also suggested that internal policy guidance had emphasized diversifying fuel sources rather than suppliers, raising further questions about how One Petroleum was selected under emergency circumstances.
Neither EPRA nor the individuals mentioned have publicly responded to the claims.
Olekina further argued that Kenya currently has sufficient fuel supplies to meet domestic demand. He cited figures indicating that the country’s monthly petrol requirement stands at approximately 180,000 metric tonnes.
According to him, ongoing shipments under the government to government fuel import arrangement exceed this demand, with multiple cargoes reportedly arriving from international markets including Europe and the United States.
Despite these supply levels, Olekina questioned why fuel prices have continued to rise, suggesting that the increases may not reflect actual market conditions. He argued that lower landed costs should ordinarily translate into more affordable pump prices for consumers.
The continued upward revision of fuel prices, despite adequate supply and relatively stable import costs, points to possible systemic inefficiencies or manipulation, he said.
The allegations come amid growing public concern over the cost of living and the impact of fuel prices on the broader economy. Analysts say fuel costs influence transportation, manufacturing and food prices, making transparency in the sector critical.
Olekina called for a thorough investigation into the claims, urging authorities to ensure accountability and protect consumers from potential exploitation.
Government officials have not issued a formal statement addressing the senator’s accusations. However, the issue is expected to attract scrutiny from parliamentary committees and regulatory bodies in the coming days.
