NAIROBI, Kenya Apr 4 – The government has initiated administrative action against senior petroleum sector officials following a widening investigation into alleged irregularities in the country’s fuel supply chain, as a high-profile corruption probe deepens across key energy agencies.
Deputy Director of Petroleum Joseph Wafula and Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Supply and Logistics Manager Joel Mburu are among officials now facing internal disciplinary processes as authorities expand scrutiny into the alleged manipulation of fuel stock data.
The announcement follows the resignation of top energy sector officials, including Energy Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban, KPC Managing Director Joe Sang, and Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director General Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, over allegations of falsifying in-country fuel stock figures to create a false impression of a looming fuel shortage.
Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei confirmed that Wafula and Mburu will undergo formal internal review as part of broader administrative and criminal investigations.
“The State Department for Petroleum has initiated appropriate administrative action against Mr Joseph Wafula, Deputy Director of Petroleum, while the management of the Kenya Pipeline Company has commenced due process against Mr Joel Mburu, Supply and Logistics Manager,” Koskei said.
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Investigators allege that manipulated stock data was used to justify emergency fuel procurement outside the Government-to-Government (G2G) framework, resulting in the importation of fuel at inflated prices and reportedly substandard quality, in breach of established procurement rules.
Authorities are also investigating the alleged diversion of a 60,000-metric-tonne fuel consignment originally destined for Angola but allegedly rerouted to the Port of Mombasa under unclear circumstances.
The shipment, carried by the vessel MV Paloma, is believed to have docked between March 27 and March 29, 2026. Detectives suspect the cargo—originating from Saudi Aramco before being resold through international intermediaries—may have entered Kenya outside the official G2G import framework.
Preliminary findings suggest potential overpricing of more than Ksh4 billion, with investigators warning total losses could rise to nearly Ksh8 billion if a second related shipment is confirmed.
Several senior officials were questioned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), with reports indicating that Liban Mohamed was later released after developing medical complications.
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In response to the unfolding probe, Kenya Pipeline Company has appointed General Manager for Finance Pius Mwendwa as acting Managing Director, following the arrest and questioning of Joe Sang.
Koskei said the government will pursue accountability and warned that any wrongdoing will be treated as economic sabotage.
“The Government remains steadfast in safeguarding the public good and protecting national interests. Any act of economic sabotage will be fully investigated and met with firm and decisive action,” he stated.
Investigators say the alleged scheme sought to exploit supply anxieties in the market despite Kenya’s relatively stable fuel import arrangements under the Government-to-Government framework introduced in 2023.
Authorities emphasized that contracted suppliers, including Aramco Trading Fujairah, ADNOC Global Trading Ltd, and Emirates National Oil Company Singapore, have continued to meet supply obligations, maintaining stability in fuel availability and pricing.
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The Executive Office of the President said the probe will continue, including efforts to reverse any irregular procurement decisions and reinforce compliance with established import systems.
Officials warned that the alleged misrepresentation may amount to offences under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act and the Penal Code, as investigations widen into what is now one of the country’s most significant energy sector scandals in recent years.
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