NAIROBI, Kenya — The Senate has given investigative and government agencies 60 days to conclude inquiries into three former senior energy officials accused of manipulating fuel stock data and facilitating the procurement of emergency fuel at inflated prices.
The directive targets former Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban, former Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Managing Director Joe Sang and former Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director General Daniel Kiptoo.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has been investigating the allegations, with the inquiry extending to Saudi Arabia, but its findings have not been made public.
The Senate Standing Committee on Energy has now called for the investigations and any related administrative or disciplinary proceedings to be concluded expeditiously while respecting the officials’ right to due process.
“Any ongoing administrative, disciplinary or criminal proceedings involving the said officers be concluded expeditiously but without prejudice to due process,” the committee said in its report.
Agencies given 60 days to report to Senate
The committee directed the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Public Service Commission, State Corporations Advisory Committee, EPRA and KPC boards, as well as relevant investigative agencies, to submit a consolidated report to the Senate within 60 days of adoption of the recommendations.
The report is expected to detail the progress, findings and outcomes of investigations and disciplinary proceedings involving the three officials.
The Senate said the move was intended to provide clarity on the status of the cases and ensure that the investigations do not remain unresolved indefinitely.
Officials accused over emergency fuel procurement
The investigations followed allegations that fuel stock data had been manipulated to create the impression that Kenya faced an imminent shortage, paving the way for emergency fuel imports.
The allegations arose during a fuel supply crisis in March and April 2026, when authorities sought additional supplies amid concerns over dwindling petrol stocks.
The Ministry of Energy said existing suppliers under government-to-government arrangements with Saudi Aramco Trading Fujairah, Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC Global Trading Ltd and Emirates National Oil Company Singapore Ltd were meeting their contractual obligations.
The ministry also raised concerns over the emergency shipment, alleging that it was overpriced and of substandard quality and had been procured at rates higher than those agreed under existing contracts.
The DCI was subsequently expected to prepare charges against the officials under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
Fuel shortage fears triggered emergency imports
The wider crisis followed the disruption of regional fuel supplies after a vessel carrying 85,000 metric tonnes of petrol belonging to Gulf Energies became stranded at the port of Jebel Ali following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Kenya had 124.39 million litres of petrol for local and transit markets as of March 19, with the available stock projected to last about 16 days.
That raised the prospect of a petrol stock-out from April 4.
Kenya also sought assistance from Uganda, which maintains part of its fuel reserves in KPC facilities.
On March 25, One Petroleum Limited and Oryx Energies Kenya Limited were awarded contracts to import 81.3 million litres of petrol each. Hass Petroleum and E3 Energy also submitted bids for emergency fuel supplies.
One Petroleum and Oryx were subsequently selected to import 60,000 tonnes of petrol each outside the government-to-government arrangement in an effort to avert the anticipated shortage.
One Petroleum shipment cancelled
Within three days of receiving the contract, One Petroleum secured a BP-owned vessel carrying fuel towards Angola.
However, the shipment did not meet Kenyan fuel standards, prompting the company to seek government waivers.
The government later directed One Petroleum to recall the product.
Industry executives disputed the feasibility of the recall, saying the fuel had already been discharged into the KPC system and mixed with other petroleum products.
The cancellation came shortly before Oryx’s cargo arrived at the Port of Mombasa, with the company subsequently protesting the government’s decision to revoke the emergency import arrangement.
One Petroleum also protested the cancellation, citing losses arising from demurrage, customs warehouse charges, inability to sell the fuel at its cost and reputational damage.
The company told the Senate that it had not initiated legal proceedings against the government over the cancelled transaction.
“To date, no penalties or formal liabilities have been imposed on the company by the government arising from the transaction. One Petroleum has not made any claim against the government,” the company said in documents tabled before the Senate.
Senate proposes new emergency fuel framework
Beyond the investigation into the three former officials, the Senate committee has recommended reforms aimed at preventing similar fuel supply crises.
Among the proposals is the creation of a statutory emergency petroleum procurement framework within six months.
The framework would define what constitutes a petroleum supply emergency and establish the roles of government agencies, approval procedures, regulatory waivers, reporting requirements and accountability mechanisms.
The committee also wants the government to establish a real-time digital petroleum stock monitoring system and standardise daily stock reports.
Oversight agencies would additionally be given access to oil marketing companies’ stock, import and allocation data.
Strategic petroleum reserve proposed
The Senate committee recommended strengthening the National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK) and developing a national strategic petroleum reserve policy.
The long-term objective would be to maintain reserves equivalent to at least six months of national petroleum consumption.
EPRA has also been asked to enforce the requirement for oil marketing companies to maintain at least 30 days of strategic stock and establish penalties for companies that fail to comply.
The committee further wants the Ministry of Energy to assess whether the planned Dangote Refinery in Mombasa could contribute to petroleum storage, strategic reserves and Kenya’s wider energy security.
It also called for stronger protections for compliant private-sector suppliers, improved mechanisms for resolving disputes and a communication framework for managing future fuel supply disruptions.
The Senate committee stressed that any resignation or removal of affected public officers must comply with the Constitution, employment laws and Article 47, which guarantees the right to fair administrative action.
