Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has responded to mounting public pressure calling for his resignation over the alleged Ksh4.8 billion substandard fuel saga.
Speaking during his appearance before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Energy on April 13, Wandayi maintained that there was no justification for him to step aside and expressed confidence that ongoing investigations would ultimately clear him of any wrongdoing.
“When all is said and done, when all is said and done, in the final analysis, clearly, there is no reason stopping me from discharging my duties as Cabinet Secretary.”
During the intense grilling session, Wandayi gave a blow-by-blow account of how substandard fuel entered the country outside the government-to-government (G-to-G) agreement, insisting he had little to do with the consignment.
According to Wandayi, senior officials, including the Principal Secretary, were involved in processing and recommending approval of the shipment through a technical committee before the matter was escalated, noting that the deviation from the G-to-G framework would have required higher-level approval, which, he maintained, was never sought.
“In short, this deviation would have required higher approval. The approval was not sought, and if it had been sought, I would have acted on it and escalated the matter to the President,” Wandayi told the committee.
Wandayi was adamant that he did not have knowledge of the pending and eventual resignation of the three energy bosses, alleging that it could be a voluntary decision from the three, and that they could have their own reasons.
He also denied evidence of coercion against the trio, and the parliamentary committee demanded copies of the resignations allegedly signed through his office, which is the appointing authority.
“In that letter, they must have indicated one to resign. So maybe we will also be asking later on the respective appointing authority, also through your office, to provide a copy,” stated the committee.
CS Wandayi also pointed out that, even as the country faces fuel uncertainties, the energy ministry has done its part to ensure fuel is available, while at the same time warning key players against hoarding fuel.
“We have done much to ensure fuel is enough. We got intelligence that some players are hoarding fuel in anticipation of a price increase. We are warning these players,” highlighted CS Wandayi.
Wandayi also addressed Tuesday’s anticipated pump price review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), noting that he could not pre-empt the regulator’s announcement.
However, he emphasised that the cost of the disputed substandard fuel consignment would not be factored into the pricing, urging Kenyans to remain patient and await the official announcement, which he said would outline measures taken by the government to cushion consumers.
