Oil firms told ‘don’t pay’ as Kenya rejects 60,000-tonne petrol shipment
Oil marketing companies in Kenya have been ordered not to pay for a 60,000-tonne shipment of super petrol, throwing the fuel industry into uncertainty and raising the risk of a major commercial dispute.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi issued the directive after the cargo, sourced by One Petroleum Ltd, was found to have been imported outside the government-to-government (G2G) fuel supply framework.
The instruction effectively leaves suppliers and traders exposed, as the consignment — already delivered — now has no guaranteed buyer in the Kenyan market.
The move could trigger millions of dollars in losses, with questions emerging over who will absorb the cost of the shipment and whether legal action could follow.
The G2G system was introduced to control fuel imports, stabilise prices, and curb the influence of middlemen.
By bypassing it, the shipment has now become the centre of a growing standoff between regulators and private players.
Mr Wandayi’s directive signals a hardline stance by the government, warning that any fuel imported outside the approved framework risks rejection, regardless of cost or delivery status.
The decision comes at a time of heightened scrutiny in the oil sector, with authorities tightening oversight amid concerns over irregular deals and market manipulation.
For consumers, the immediate impact may not be felt at the pump, but for industry players, the message is clear: compliance is no longer optional.
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