By Andrew Kariuki
The government has moved to calm fears of a fuel shortage, assuring Kenyans that the country has sufficient petrol reserves despite recent supply disruptions reported in parts of the country.
In a statement shared during a live interview with Belgut MP Nelson Koech on Monday, March 23, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Petroleum Mohamed Liban said the country has adequate fuel stocks to meet demand for several days.
According to the PS, the shortages experienced in some areas were largely driven by hoarding by oil marketers and panic buying by consumers amid fears of a possible supply disruption linked to tensions in the Middle East.
“We have sufficient stock in the country, and we had an operational issue with super petrol. In the run-up to the weekend, we have seen a daily rise in petrol prices over the last two weeks because of speculation and panic buying,” Liban said.
He added that the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) is actively addressing the situation to ensure normal supply resumes across the country.
Liban further confirmed that over 100 million litres of super petrol had been received into the system as of March 19, noting that the supply is expected to stabilize the market for at least 10 to 14 days.
“The EPRA is currently dealing with hoarding by oil marketers due to the anticipation of price jumps… 101 million litres of super petrol hit the system, and for more than 10 days’ consumption is expected to ease the situation,” the statement added.
The developments come amid heightened global energy concerns triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The situation has raised fears over disruptions to global oil supply, particularly following threats by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that handles over 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas.
In response, Donald Trump warned that the United States could target Iran’s energy infrastructure if the strait is not reopened, further escalating tensions in the region.
Kenya remains vulnerable to such global shocks, as the country relies heavily on imported refined petroleum products.
However, EPRA maintained fuel prices in its latest review for the period between March 15 and April 14, noting that current pricing is based on February shipments and has not yet been affected by the ongoing geopolitical developments.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid panic buying, assuring that measures are in place to stabilize supply and prevent further disruptions.
