By Andrew Kariuki

One Petroleum Limited has confirmed it has taken steps to prevent a disputed consignment of super petrol from entering the Kenyan market following a government directive.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the company said the cargo, delivered on March 27, 2026 aboard MT Paloma, would not be released for local distribution after consultations with authorities.

“Following consultations with the Government, One Petroleum Limited confirms that it has forthwith taken steps to ensure that the petroleum cargo that was brought in on 27th March, 2026 via MT Paloma does not enter the Kenyan market,” the company said.

The firm noted that it was among four bidders that had responded to an emergency request by the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in March, a process that has since come under scrutiny.

The move follows a directive by Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi ordering the withdrawal of the product and cancellation of related invoices issued to oil marketing companies.

According to the ministry, the 60,000-metric-tonne consignment was imported outside the Government-to-Government (G-to-G) fuel supply framework.

The government stated that the shipment was priced at Ksh198,000 per metric tonne, compared to Ksh140,000 per metric tonne under the G-to-G arrangement, a difference that could have increased pump prices by about Ksh14 per litre.

As part of the directive, One Petroleum was instructed to withdraw all invoices and issue credit notes, while oil marketing companies were barred from purchasing or lifting the fuel.

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) was also directed to exclude the consignment from monthly fuel pricing calculations.

The government said the measures were aimed at protecting the stability of the fuel supply chain and preventing price distortions in the market.

The development comes amid heightened scrutiny over fuel importation processes under the G-to-G framework introduced in 2023.