NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has assured Kenyans that the country has sufficient petrol reserves, dismissing fears of a looming fuel shortage following reports of supply disruptions in some regions.
In a statement relayed during a live interview on Monday, March 23, Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban said the country holds adequate fuel stocks to meet demand for several days, attributing recent shortages to market behaviour rather than supply constraints.
“We have sufficient stock in the country… We have seen a daily upsurge in petrol prices over the last two weeks because of speculation and panic buying,” Liban said.
According to the ministry, the shortages experienced in parts of the country were largely caused by hoarding by oil marketers anticipating possible supply disruptions linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
The government said the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) is actively addressing the situation, including monitoring market practices and ensuring that fuel distributors resume normal supply operations.
Liban further revealed that more than 100 million litres of super petrol had been received into the system as of March 19, a volume expected to sustain the country for at least 10 to 14 days and ease pressure on supply chains.
“The EPRA is currently dealing with hoarding by oil marketers due to the anticipation of price jumps… 101 million litres of super petrol hit the system, and for more than 10 days, consumption is expected to ease the situation,” the statement added.
The assurances come after a wave of panic buying over the past week, with motorists in several towns reporting long queues at petrol stations and sporadic outages.
Energy sector analysts note that while Kenya relies on imported petroleum products, supply disruptions are often influenced by global market dynamics, including geopolitical tensions, as well as local distribution practices.
Under Kenya’s energy regulations, EPRA is mandated to oversee fair pricing and ensure stability in the supply of petroleum products, including curbing hoarding and speculative practices that may distort the market.
The government has urged motorists to avoid panic buying, assuring that supply remains stable and that corrective measures are being implemented to normalise distribution.
