The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) has admitted and acknowledged, through an affidavit filed in court, that substandard diesel valued at Ksh17 billion was released to the market in November 2023.
According to the affidavit, the consignment arrived aboard MV Hagui, which docked at the Port of Mombasa on November 4, 2023.
In the affidavit, KPC revealed that MV Hagui carried Diesel EN590, which is not acceptable in the Kenyan market.
Despite the substandard nature of the fuel, KPC admitted that it was promptly handed over to an Oil Marketing Company (OMC) contracted for fuel importation through a Government-to-Government deal between Kenya and Gulf countries.
KPC defended its actions, stating that the corporation lacked strategic reserves in the country to retain the diesel.
Furthermore, they argued that it was within the legal framework to transfer the fuel to OMCs. As per contractual agreements, once handed over to OMCs, the fuel was expected to be immediately introduced to the market after discharge.
The lack of a money trail has also complicated efforts to identify the recipient of the Ksh17 billion from the alleged sale of the substandard fuel.
KPC also stated that the fuel aboard MV Hagui did not belong to business woman Anne Njoroge.
Anne Njoroge claims that she purchased the fuel from Russia, and it was transported through Azerbaijan before arriving in Kenya on November 4.
The businesswoman was embroiled in a dispute with two oil companies, Galana Energies Limited and Ramco. She was allegedly kidnapped after providing a statement to the police about an attempt to fleece her of the fuel, only to resurface later.
She would later on accuse senior government officials including Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi of being behind her woes.
