High Court Halts Ruto’s Planned Kenya Pipeline Company Privatisation
The High Court in Nairobi has issued a provisional injunction preventing the government from proceeding with the planned sale of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) as part of its ongoing privatisation programme.
On Friday morning, Justice Bahati Mwamuye prohibited the National Treasury, the Privatisation Authority, and other state institutions from issuing, selling, allocating, or transferring any KPC shares until the Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) petition is heard and adjudicated.
“Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the petitioner’s notice of motion application dated August 14, 2025, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued restraining the respondents and the interested parties, jointly and severally, and whether by themselves or through their agents, servants, or any person acting under their authority, from offering for sale, allocating, disposing, transferring, or otherwise dealing with any shares of the Kenya Pipeline Company Limited pursuant to the impugned privatisation plan that is the subject of the petition herein,” the judge ruled.
The court scheduled the hearing for September 5, 2025, and asked Cofek to serve the order, application, and petition on the respondents and interested parties immediately, providing an affidavit of service by the end of Friday.
Respondents must submit and serve their responses by August 22, with Cofek’s retort due by August 29.
The deadline for preliminary written entries is September 3.
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The High Court in Nairobi has issued conservatory orders blocking the government from proceeding with the planned sale of the Kenya Pipeline Company under the ongoing privatization programme.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye’s ruling, delivered this morning, restrains… pic.twitter.com/x1lq8AmkPJ
The case challenges the National Treasury’s proposal to raise around Sh100 billion by selling KPC shares in an initial public offering on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
On July 29, the Cabinet endorsed the plan at a meeting led by President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi.
This is part of Ruto’s larger strategy to limit the government’s role in business while encouraging private sector-led growth, efficiency, and innovation.
“The Cabinet gave the green light for the reinstatement of Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) into the privatisation programme, paving the way for partial divestiture of government shares in a move aimed at democratising ownership by Kenyans at the Nairobi Securities Exchange and unlocking the company’s full commercial potential,” a State House dispatch stated.
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KPC, a key player in Kenya’s energy supply chain, has repeatedly reported high earnings.
The government claims that privatization will bring in private finance and professional knowledge, modernizing operations and positioning the company as a regional logistics and energy leader.
The Cabinet cited models such as Safaricom, Kenya Commercial Bank, and KenGen, claiming that these firms thrived after privatization, growing regionally, creating jobs, and increasing shareholder value.
However, Cofek has expressed procedural and consequential issues about the intended sale.
High Court Halts Ruto’s Planned Kenya Pipeline Company Privatisation
