Fuel crisis bites: Stock-outs reported across the country

An acute fuel shortage has hit several parts of the country, with concerns that suppliers are hoarding the commodity.

The crisis, linked to global supply disruptions amid tensions in the Middle East involving Israel, the United States and Iran, has hit independent oil dealers hardest, with many small-scale filling stations, especially in rural areas, reporting inadequate supplies.

This is happening despite repeated public assurances from the government agencies and regulators that the country has sufficient fuel stock and that there is no shortage.

In Mt Kenya region, shortage has been reported in Muranga, Meru, Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Embu counties.

In Murang'a, supply of both diesel and petrol remained erratic, with only Rubis and Shell affiliated petrol stations having limited stock.

By Wednesday morning, the two petrol stations were experiencing long queues as motorists both on local drives and on transit searched for fuel.

"We are nearing a total shutdown should the prevailing situation persist. Murang'a County is operating at about 40 percent supply of fuel in petrol stations," said Murang'a South Public Service Transport Welfare Union chair Edward Njoroge.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, long queues were witnessed at fuelling stations in Chuka, Embu, Meru, Nanyuki and Isiolo owns as motorists competed for the last drop of fuel.

By Wednesday morning, majority of the fuelling attendants were sending motorists away citing stock outs.

The fuel crisis has seen many of the public service vehicles withdrawn from the roads leading to fare hikes in some routes. 

Meru Matatu Owners secretary Joseph bundi said while fuel prices have not increased, they are being forced to queue for long to get the commodity. 

"We urge the government to address the fuel issue and avert a sharp rise in prices. Higher prices will badly affect our business," Mr Bundi said.

In Kirinyaga and Embu counties, the shortage triggered panic buying as motorists and boda boda riders formed long queues at petrol stations.

Nyandarua and Laikipia counties are among the worst hit by the scarcity that has grounded both public and private vehicles, many of which were spotted idling in parking bays or abandoned at dry petrol stations.

In Trans Nzoia County, a spot check in Kitale, Kiminini, Kachibora and Endebess revealed widespread shortages with some stations closed and others overwhelmed by demand. Long queues were reported at major outlets near Kitale Club.

In Kisumu, motorists are grappling with dwindling fuel supplies, with operators warning that existing stocks may last barely a week.

At one Rubis station, fuel attendant John Okinyi spoke with measured concern saying “We still have both petrol and diesel, but in limited quantities. If we do not receive new stock within a week, we could run out entirely,” he said.

An attendant at an Ola station, James Okiri, painted a similar picture, noting a surge in demand driven by anxiety. “In the evenings, we are witnessing long queues as motorists rush to refuel, fearing an imminent shortage,” he observed.

In Nyamira town, Joshua Omasire shared his frustration after an unsuccessful search stretching over two days. “I have gone as far as Nyamaiya without finding any. The queues are long, and given my age, I cannot stand for extended periods,” he said.

In Eldoret City, Uasin Gishu County and its outskirts are experiencing unreliable fuel supply, with some stations lacking petrol, others diesel, and a few completely out of stock.

For farmers across the North Rift, the shortage could not have come at a worse time. Diesel-powered machinery is critical for ploughing, planting, pesticide spraying and fertiliser application.

“The rains are here and the land is ready, but tractors are silent. Every day we delay planting, we risk the harvest. We cannot achieve food security without fuel,” said Mr Edward Lamai, a large-scale farmer on the outskirts of Eldoret.

At the coast, long distance drivers raised concerns over the fuel shortage which is threatening movement of cargo in the country and across East Africa.

Kenya Transporters Association chairman Newton Wang’oo said over the past several days, transporters across the country particularly those operating along key logistics corridors have reported widespread fuel rationing refusal by marketers to supply in bulk and complete withdrawal of credit facilities by oil marketing companies.

“The road transport sector is the backbone of Kenya’s economy and regional trade within the East African Community. The current situation threatens movement of essential goods and transit cargo, stability of supply chains, Kenya’ss position as a regional logistics hub,” said Mr Wang’oo.

However, fuel supplies have since resumed in Bomet, Kericho, and Narok counties, just a day after shortages were reported across most outlets. Motorists refueled on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, leading to a return to normalcy and the easing of congestion at local stations.

“There was panic initially when most of the stations ran out of fuel on Tuesday, but this morning, new stock was delivered and the queues have cleared,” said Mr Alexander Rono, the Bomet Boda Boda Association chairman.

Similarly fuel stocks were replenished in Narok and Kericho towns, as well as the Litein, Kapsoit, Kapkatet, Sotik, Mulot, Ololulunga, and Sogoo trading centers.

In Nairobi, there was fuel in most stations.

Some stations in Westlands, parts of Lang’ata, Mombasa Road, Nairobi CBD continued to dispense the commodity with relatively shorter queues.

Martin Chomba of Petroleum Outlets Association of Kenya told Daily Nation that petrol stations with no sufficient supply of fuel will have to bear the situation.

“If the small-scale petrol stations in the outskirts of Kenya decry a shortage of fuel,” Chomba said, “franchise petrol stations with no supply gap will have to bear the brunt as more customers from the interior of the country will line up for the purchase of fuel."

Reporting by Marklewis Kithinji, Mwangi Muiruri, George Munene, David Muchui, Waikwa Maina, Vitalis Kimutai, Barnabas Bii, Titus Ominde, Sammy Lutta, Evans Jaola, Florah Koech, Anthony Kitimo, Domnic Ombok, George Odiwuor and Ruth Mbula