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Fuel crisis hits as State defends higher sulphur imports
Government attributes fuel supply disruptions in some parts of the country to technical and administrative issues.
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has attributed fuel supply disruptions in some parts of the country to technical and administrative issues, while also defending the government's decision to lower fuel quality standards by reintroducing higher-sulphur fuel into the market.
Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi on Wednesday said that supply challenges at some filling stations had affected the uptake and movement of petroleum products among oil marketing companies operating in the downstream supply chain.
“The temporary fuel supply challenges experienced in isolated filling stations in some parts of the country arose from a technical and administrative hitch,” he said in a statement.
The CS said the issue had since been resolved and that the ministry was working closely with industry stakeholders to restore normal deliveries across the country.
However, when asked to explain the exact nature of the “technical and administrative hitch”, Mr Wandayi declined to provide further details, saying: “Just go by my statement, for now.”
Motorists fuel at a petrol station in Nyali, Mombasa County on May 6, 2026.
The CS maintained that the country had adequate fuel reserves and urged the public not to panic.
“Fuel restocking in various filling stations is underway, and normal supply across the country will be attained by the end of the day today,” he said. “There should be no cause for alarm.”
The reassurance came as Trade CS Lee Kinyanjui defended the government’s controversial decision to revert from cleaner 10 parts per million (ppm) sulphur fuel to the higher 50ppm standard amid growing criticism from consumers and environmental groups.
Appearing before the Senate plenary on Wednesday, Mr Kinyanjui said Kenya had consumed the same 50ppm fuel for nearly 10 years before transitioning to cleaner fuel in August last year.
“The fuel that you are talking about, the standards, is the same fuel that the country has been consuming for the last 10 years until August last year,” Mr Kinyanjui told senators.
He was responding to concerns raised by Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, who questioned the rationale behind the government decision to lower fuel standards despite Kenya’s environmental commitments.
Mr Kinyanjui argued that global supply chain disruptions and refinery challenges in the Middle East had limited Kenya’s options for sourcing cleaner fuel.
“Refineries across the Middle East have been thoroughly damaged, so this is a situation that will be foreseeable not only now but in the next one or two years,” he said.
His remarks suggested the return to higher-sulphur fuel could last longer than earlier projections by the Energy Ministry, which had initially indicated that the change would only remain in place for six months.
“Between having perfect quality and availability, we chose availability,” he added.
A petrol station along Homa Bay-Kendu Bay road in Homa Bay County on May 6, 2026. The station has shut due to fuel crisis.
The Petroleum Outlets Association of Kenya (POAK) linked the recent supply disruptions to delays in fuel shipments and adjustments within the supply system following the lowering of standards.
POAK Chairman Martin Chomba said diesel shortages had been experienced over the past two weeks as expected fuel vessels failed to arrive on schedule.
“We have experienced a shortage, especially of diesel … the vessels that we order are not coming in,” Mr Chomba said. “I do understand that the government recently lowered the standards of fuel. My guess would be that they are now rationalising the systems so that they can now take in the new fuel standards.”
A ministry official familiar with the matter said delays in clearing cargo into the Kenya Pipeline Company system had contributed to the disruption after some documentation required for discharge was missing.
“That is a temporary issue that was as a result of delay in clearing cargoes to discharge their product,” said the official, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly. “The issue was sorted out yesterday and things will normalise soon.”
Government officials maintained that the country still had enough petrol and diesel stocks to sustain demand for at least 19 days, with four additional vessels expected to reinforce supply.
Among the vessels that docked at the Port of Mombasa this week were MT Santhia carrying 120,934 cubic metres of petrol and MT Minerva Pisces carrying 85,014 cubic metres of diesel. Two more vessels – STI Park and MT Fortitude – are expected later this week with additional fuel cargo.
Trucks queue to refuel at a petrol station along Kisumu-Kakamega Road in Kisumu on May 6, 2026, as drivers seek to secure fuel amid supply constraints.
Kenya imports fuel under the government-to-government fuel deal involving Gulf-based suppliers, including Aramco Trading Fujairah, ADNOC Global Trading and Emirates National Oil Company.
But ongoing instability in the Gulf region, including attacks on refineries and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, has complicated sourcing and logistics, forcing suppliers to seek alternative loading points in Europe, India and the Red Sea.
Motorists across several counties reported worsening fuel shortages, with diesel emerging as the most affected product as panic buying and delivery delays disrupted normal supply chains.
In Murang’a County, matatu operators said some petrol stations were operating below capacity as transport operators spent hours, and in some cases entire nights, waiting for fuel deliveries. James Wachira, the chairman of the Murang’a Matatu Operators Welfare Union, said the shortages had triggered hoarding among some transport Saccos and fuel dealers.
“For the past three days, some of us have been forced to spend nights in petrol stations waiting for fuel to be delivered,” he said.
Mr Wachira warned that the shortage had also fuelled an illegal black market where diesel siphoned from trucks and construction sites was being resold to motorists, raising fears of fuel adulteration and engine damage.
In Mombasa, motorists reported widespread diesel shortages at major filling stations, forcing some drivers to park vehicles or search for fuel across multiple outlets. Similar scenes were reported in Kisumu, where several stations either ran out of fuel entirely or rationed available stocks, leaving motorists stranded and transport costs rising.
At some filling stations in Kisumu, attendants said deliveries had become inconsistent, with orders arriving partially fulfilled or delayed altogether. Truck drivers at the Kenya Pipeline Company loading yard also reported longer waiting periods linked to diesel shortages.
In Kutus, motorists and boda-boda riders scrambled for the limited fuel available, with some consumers accusing traders of hoarding products despite price increases. Public transport operators in parts of Kisii and Homa Bay counties also raised fares, citing rising fuel costs and unreliable supply.
Reporting by Edwin Mutai, Ndubi Moturi, George Munene, Mwangi Muiruri, Kevin Odit, Alex Odhiambo, Domnic Ombok, Wycliffe Nyaberi and George Odiwuor
