Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has assured Kenyans that petroleum supplies will remain stable despite escalating tensions in the Middle East, which have sparked concerns about fuel availability and prices in the coming months.
Wandayi said the government is closely monitoring the evolving situation and taking measures to safeguard the country's petroleum supply.
“We continue to monitor the situation as it evolves in the Middle East specifically, but we can assure the public with certainty that the supply of petroleum products will continue uninterrupted going forward,” he said while addressing the media in Siaya on Friday, October 23.
The CS attributed the continued availability of petroleum products since the conflict between the United States and Iran erupted in February to Kenya's government-to-government (G-to-G) fuel importation arrangement.
According to Wandayi, the framework lets international oil suppliers source petroleum products from multiple refineries worldwide, helping Kenya maintain consistent deliveries despite disruptions in some markets.
He acknowledged that obtaining fuel from more distant sources could increase transportation and procurement costs but insisted that ensuring sufficient supplies remained the government's immediate concern.
His remarks come after Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director General Edward Mwirigi Kinyua announced on October 15 that Kenya had more than 15 days of fuel stocks.
Kinyua also indicated that suppliers operating under the G-to-G framework had committed to maintaining deliveries despite the uncertainty in global energy markets.
However, EPRA cautioned that international market pressures could push domestic fuel prices higher in November and December.
Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro also raised concerns on Saturday, October 24, warning that global oil prices could climb to fresh highs in the following week as the Iran crisis intensifies.
Nyoro pointed to the possibility of additional attacks on oil tankers and energy infrastructure ahead of the November 3 United States midterm elections, which could further disrupt global petroleum supplies.
He further suggested that oil prices could peak around November 5, arguing that US President Donald Trump might adopt a more aggressive approach towards Iran after the elections.
The concerns come amid reports that two tankers transporting fuel destined for Kenya were struck by drones in the Strait of Hormuz. Despite damage to the vessels' engines, the petroleum cargo was reportedly left intact.
The incident has heightened concerns over the vulnerability of fuel shipments passing through the strategic waterway, which is a major route for global oil transportation.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Ports Authority's vessel schedule indicated that six tankers carrying energy and related products were expected at the ports of Mombasa and Lamu between October 19 and 31.
The consignments included butane, V-Power fuel, base oil, gasoil and palm oil, highlighting the continued movement of petroleum and other energy-related products into the country.
While the government maintains that Kenya's fuel supply remains secure, developments in the Middle East and fluctuations in international oil prices could influence the cost of importing petroleum products and the prices consumers pay at the pump in the coming months.
