By Andrew Kariuki

A grassroots economic justice movement has called for the suspension of Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui over their alleged links to the ongoing probe into the importation of questionable fuel.

In a statement dated April 7, 2026, Mtetezi, a grassroots economic justice movement, said documents in circulation suggest that the two ministries were involved in a chain of correspondence tied to the fuel consignment now under investigation.

The group stated that a waiver request to the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is said to have originated from the Petroleum Department under then Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban, with the Energy CS’s office copied for policy awareness. It further indicated that a recommendation or related communication is believed to have come from the Ministry of Trade, placing both offices within what it termed a “policy-level chain” currently under scrutiny.

Mtetezi questioned why action has already been taken against junior and technical officers, including directors, while Cabinet-level officials whose offices appear within the same process remain in office. It warned that this could create an impression of selective accountability and weaken public confidence in the investigations.

The group also argued that allowing the two Cabinet Secretaries to remain in office during the probe could risk interfering with the process, directly or indirectly, and maintained that public officials should step aside where their offices are linked to decisions under investigation.

Among its demands, Mtetezi called for the immediate suspension of both Wandayi and Kinyanjui pending the conclusion of investigations. It also called for the release of all inter-ministerial correspondence related to the fuel cargo, disclosure of KEBS waiver documents and a parliamentary inquiry into how the importation was approved.

The group issued a 48 hour ultimatum for action to be taken, warning that failure to act would lead to further steps, including a public interest petition and demonstrations.

The statement comes amid increasing scrutiny of the petroleum supply chain, with questions being raised about accountability, public safety and the handling of the multi-billion shilling fuel imports.