By Bonface Mulyungi

Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi has strongly defended the government-to-government (G-to-G) fuel importation framework following criticism from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who termed the arrangement a “fraud” amid rising fuel prices. 

Speaking during a media briefing before departing for the United Kingdom, Gachagua accused President William Ruto and private sector players of using the fuel importation system to exploit Kenyans through high pump prices. 

“This G-to-G arrangement is a fraud. We were told that it would regulate prices and cushion Kenyans from sporadic changes in pricing systems, but the prices keep going higher,” Gachagua said. 

The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader argued that the current fuel price crisis had little to do with global oil market trends, claiming that neighbouring countries sourcing fuel from the same Middle East suppliers were selling petroleum products at lower prices than Kenya.

 However, on Saturday, Wandayi dismissed the claims, insisting that the framework was not a new initiative and had previously been supported by Gachagua while he served as Deputy President. 

“This issue of government-to-government fuel importation did not start yesterday or today,” Wandayi said. 

He added “In 2023, when Rigathi Gachagua was Deputy President, he was at the forefront of receiving the first vessels under the same G-to-G framework.”

 The Energy CS questioned why Gachagua was now criticising a policy he once publicly backed while serving in government.

 “How can the framework be good when he was Deputy President and suddenly become bad now?” Wandayi posed. 

Wandayi maintained that any concerns touching on energy and petroleum matters should be directed to his ministry instead of dragging the Head of State into political disputes. 

“If he has issues concerning my docket, then he should face me directly and stop mentioning President Ruto in every statement,” he said. 

The CS called on political leaders to allow the government to continue implementing its development agenda. 

“This obsession with President Ruto is sickening. You cannot continue clinging to the name of another man day in and day out,” Wandayi said. 

He defended the Kenya Kwanza administration’s management of the energy sector, saying the government remained committed to stabilising fuel supply and ensuring long-term energy security in the country.

On the Turkana oil project, Wandayi explained that oil in Turkana county was first discovered in 2012, but the field development programme was only approved in December last year during his tenure.

 “This oil was discovered in Turkana in 2012, but it was only last December that the Field Development Plan was approved under my watch, 14 years later,” he said. 

According to Wandayi, the plan was later taken before the National Assembly and the Senate, where it received approval from both Houses.

The CS warned that he would no longer remain silent in the face of continued criticism from the former Deputy President.