Gulf Energy tops the list of six oil marketing companies that received billions of shillings from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum for pump price stabilisation over the last two financial years.
Gulf Energy—one of the three oil importers under Kenya’s Government-to-Government (G-to-G) petroleum supply deal signed in 2023—was paid a total of Sh23.8 billion in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.
Data submitted to the National Assembly’s Energy Committee shows the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum spent Sh19.2 billion from the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) Fund to pay three companies under the fuel stabilisation subsidy programme.
Of this, Gulf Energy received Sh9.5 billion, Galana Energies Sh4.65 billion, and Oryx Energies Sh218.56 million.
In the 2023/24 financial year, the government collected Sh24.16 billion through the PDL and Sh26.37 billion in 2024/25.
The levy—charged at Sh25 per litre—is used to cushion citizens against fuel price volatility through the Petroleum Stabilisation Fund. The National Treasury allocated Sh25 billion for stabilisation in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
Kenya’s G-to-G fuel import arrangement—signed with Saudi Aramco, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)—was implemented in March 2023 to ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves and ensure stable fuel supply.
The framework allows for petroleum imports under a 180-day deferred payment plan, coordinated by the Ministry of Energy.
Statistics tabled before the Energy Committee by Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi show that six oil marketers received a combined Sh13.69 billion in stabilisation payments in the 2024/25 fiscal year.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
Gulf Energy took the lion’s share at Sh9.5 billion, followed by Galana Energies (Sh1.85 billion), One Petroleum (Sh998.4 million), Oryx Energies (Sh1.11 billion), Asharami Synergy (Sh257.8 million) and Texas Energy (Sh1.65 million).
The committee had requested a detailed breakdown of the PDL collections and expenditures for 2023/24 and 2024/25.
This included amounts collected annually, specific stabilisation periods, total fuel volumes subsidised, a list of benefiting oil marketers, exact payments made to each and any balance carried forward.
Mr Wandayi who appeared before the committee last Tuesday, also presented the status of the G-to-G fuel deal. He said the government has successfully negotiated lower freight and premium costs under the arrangement and has imported petroleum products worth Sh1.6 trillion ($12.34 billion) since 2023.
According to the CS, a total of 170 fuel cargoes—delivering 14.67 million metric tonnes of petroleum—have arrived under the G-to-G deal, ensuring consistent supply for Kenya and the wider region.
“Through the 170 cargoes, a total of 14,669,534.96 metric tonnes have been delivered by the suppliers and their nominated oil marketing companies,” the CS told MPs.
As of June 2025, the retail price per litre of Super Petrol was Sh186.31 in Nairobi, Sh148.14 in Dodoma (Tanzania), Sh183.24 in Kampala (Uganda), and Sh161.80 in Kigali (Rwanda).
Diesel prices stood at Sh171.58 in Nairobi, Sh142.68 in Dodoma, Sh178.91 in Kampala, and Sh157.67 in Kigali. Kerosene retailed at Sh156.58 in Nairobi and Sh135.84 in Dodoma. The ministry did not provide kerosene prices for Kampala and Kigali.
Mr Wandayi noted that Kenya has the highest fuel taxes and levies in the region, with Rwanda having the lowest. In Kenya, Super Petrol is taxed at Sh82.33 per litre, compared to Sh50.64 in Tanzania, Sh52.30 in Uganda, and Sh30.69 in Rwanda.
Diesel attracts Sh69.67 per litre in Kenya, versus Sh44.59 in Tanzania, Sh40.76 in Uganda, and Sh36.79 in Rwanda. Kerosene is taxed at Sh55.14 in Kenya, compared to Sh37.26 in Tanzania.
Kenya imposes multiple taxes on petroleum products, including Excise Duty, Road Maintenance Levy, Petroleum Development Levy, Petroleum Regulatory Levy, Railway Development Levy, Anti-Adulteration Levy, Merchant Shipping Levy, Import Declaration Fee, and Value Added Tax (VAT).
