The government has assured Kenyans that the country will not face petroleum product shortages despite the global oil crisis triggered by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said in a statement on Tuesday that Kenya has adequate fuel stocks to sustain operations for the next two months.
He noted that the government was closely monitoring the evolving situation while engaging government-to-government suppliers to put contingency plans in place should the standoff persist and disrupt global supply chains.
“As of today (March 3), the country has sufficient stocks to cover both the country and the region,” the statement read in part.
“We have scheduled imports for delivery up to the end of April 2026 and, therefore, as it stands, we are assured of security of supply.”
Wandayi added that the ministry remains on high alert and will continue taking necessary measures to guarantee an uninterrupted petroleum supply to consumers and businesses.
The developments come at a time when the instability in the Middle East and concerns about possible disruptions to global petroleum supply routes.
Particularly, shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman has continued to raise fears among motorists in Africa and other regions that depend on the supply route.
The Strait of Hormuz is considered a cost-effective route for transporting oil and gas from Gulf suppliers such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with which the Government of Kenya has a government-to-government supply arrangement.
Any disruption to the route would force shipping companies to use longer alternative passages, which would significantly increase transport costs.
Already, with less than a fortnight to the next price review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), there are already fears that the prices will go up after global oil prices went up on Tuesday for a third consecutive day due to the tensions.
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Daily tracker shows Brent crude futures climbed to Ksh10,247 (USD79.42) a barrel at the open of business on Tuesday.
This represents a Ksh210.3 (USD1.63) or 2.14 per cent day-to-day increase.
On Monday, the global benchmark surged to as high as Ksh10,627 (USD82.37) per barrel, its highest level since January 2025, before paring gains to settle 6.7 per cent higher.
In its last fuel review, EPRA reduced Super Petrol prices by Ksh4.24, Diesel by Ksh3.93, and Kerosene by Ksh1.00, with petrol set to retail at Ksh178.28, Diesel at Ksh166.54, and Kerosene at Ksh152.78.
Gov’t Breaks Silence on Petroleum Shortage Claims Amidst Middle East War
