Lee Kinyanjui, the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, has announced a temporary waiver on fuel standards aimed at ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply in Kenya amid growing global supply chain disruptions.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Kinyanjui said the government had approved the temporary measure following requests from stakeholders in the petroleum sector. The decision comes as global fuel supply routes, including the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, continue to face disruptions linked to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
According to the CS, the waiver will allow Kenya to temporarily revert to previous fuel quality standards for up to six months, or a shorter period should international supply conditions improve sooner.
“The Ministry has approved a request by the Energy and Petroleum Ministry, under the guidance of the National Standards Council, to temporarily waive the sulphur parameter to the maximum limit of 50mg/kg,” Kinyanjui stated.
The waiver applies to KS EAS 177:2025 – Automotive Gasoil and KS EAS 158:2025 – Premium Motor Spirit, effectively allowing fuel imports under the earlier sulphur specifications.
The announcement marks a significant policy shift, coming only weeks after a similar waiver sparked controversy and led to major changes within the energy sector. The earlier incident resulted in the arrest and resignation of former Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban, Daniel Kiptoo of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and Joe Sang of the Kenya Pipeline Company.
The government insists the latest waiver is strictly temporary and necessary to protect the country from potential fuel shortages caused by international market instability.
The move is expected to spark debate among environmentalists, consumers, and energy sector players over fuel quality, pricing, and long-term policy consistency.
