Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has assured Kenyans that the threat of substandard fuel from the ongoing Ksh4 billion procurement scandal has been contained, with supplies secure. This follows the arrests and resignations of four senior officials last week and the halting of a second suspicious shipment. EPRA has appointed Joseph Oketch as acting Director General.
Following the arrests on Friday and resignations on Saturday of four senior officials—former Petroleum PS Mohammed Liban, former EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo, former KPC Managing Director Joe Sang, and Petroleum Deputy Director Joseph Wafula—implicated in procuring substandard fuel worth over Ksh4 billion outside the government-to-government framework, Wandayi issued a statement on Sunday.
The first shipment, already in circulation, prompted investigations. Wandayi confirmed: "When full information about the fuel shipment that is the subject of investigations emerged, we stopped the delivery of a second cargo under similar circumstances, thus protecting and securing public interest." He assured sufficient petroleum stocks and announced a comprehensive review of management systems.
EPRA Board Chairman Adan Ali this week appointed Joseph Oketch, with over 25 years in the energy sector and prior role heading the Electricity and Renewable Energy Directorate, as acting Director General. EPRA reaffirmed its regulatory stability.
President William Ruto has declared zero tolerance for cartels in the oil sector. Wandayi warned against exploitation by cartels and accused some political leaders of disinformation amid the scandal.
