NAIROBI, Kenya — The deepening fuel scandal has taken a dramatic turn after it emerged that Sh500 million recovered from the homes of four senior suspects is now missing, further complicating one of the most explosive corruption probes in Kenya’s energy sector.
The cash had been seized during coordinated raids targeting top government-linked officials at the centre of the fuel importation and supply saga, individuals now identified as key decision-makers in the petroleum chain.
Powerful names at the centre of the storm
Those implicated in the scandal include:
- Mohamed Liban – Petroleum Principal Secretary
- Daniel Kiptoo – Director General of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA)
- Joe Sang – Managing Director of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC)
- Joseph Wafula Wepukhulu – Deputy Director in charge of petroleum economic analysis
They have since resigned, as announced by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
According to investigators, the four were arrested in a sweeping operation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over alleged irregularities in fuel importation, supply manipulation, and possible distribution of substandard petroleum products.
Millions recovered — then vanished
During the raids, detectives reportedly recovered hundreds of millions of shillings in cash stashed inside the suspects’ homes, believed to be proceeds of the alleged scheme.
However, in a shocking twist, reports now indicate that the more than Sh500 million from the recovered cash cannot be traced, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the evidence handling process.
The missing money was expected to be a key exhibit in linking the suspects to illicit financial flows tied to the fuel scandal.
A source privy to the ongoing investigations and who spoke to Y News said, “If that cash is not traced, it will significantly weaken the prosecution’s case. Defence lawyers will argue that the chain of custody was compromised and they would have a point.”
Another added, “There is growing suspicion that this may not be a simple procedural lapse. The amount involved is too large. This points to possible internal collusion or interference.”
Legal experts warn that the loss of such a critical exhibit could significantly weaken the prosecution’s case, potentially giving suspects room to challenge the credibility of the investigation.
A scandal widening by the day
The arrests themselves stem from a broader probe into:
- Importation of fuel outside the government-to-government (G-to-G) deal
- Alleged artificial fuel shortages
- Claims of substandard fuel entering the Kenyan market
The involvement of senior officials across EPRA, KPC, and the Ministry of Energy has already shaken public confidence, but the disappearance of the recovered cash now threatens to deepen the crisis.
As pressure mounts on the government to act decisively, the focus has shifted from just who stole the fuel money to a more troubling question:
Who made Sh500 million disappear after it was already in state custody?
