Kenya Rejects 60,000-Tonne Super Petrol Cargo
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has announced that Kenya has rejected a controversial 60,000-metric-tonne shipment of super petrol.
The controversial cargo was sourced by One Petroleum Limited outside the official Government-to-Government (G-to-G) fuel supply framework that Kenya uses for bulk imports.
In a firm statement, CS Wandayi ordered oil marketing companies not to pay any invoices issued for the shipment and to replace them with credit notes. He explained that the consignment was priced at Sh198,000 per metric tonne, which is significantly higher than the Sh140,000 per tonne under the standard G-to-G arrangement. Allowing the expensive fuel into the market would have pushed pump prices up by about Sh14 per litre, adding more burden on motorists and businesses.
The decision forms part of the government’s efforts to protect consumers and maintain stability in fuel pricing amid the ongoing investigations into the multi-billion-shilling fuel importation scandal. One Petroleum Limited has confirmed it has taken steps to block the cargo (which arrived on March 27, 2026, via MT Paloma) from entering the Kenyan market following consultations with the government.
This move comes at a time when the country is already facing questions over fuel procurement processes. The rejection aims to safeguard the integrity of Kenya’s fuel supply system and prevent unnecessary increases in the cost of living.
