The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has moved to calm public anxiety over a potential fuel crisis, assuring Kenyans that the country holds sufficient petrol reserves despite reports of localized shortages.
In a statement by Belgut MP Nelson Koech during a live interview on Monday, March 23, Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban said the current disruptions are not due to a supply deficit but stem largely from market behavior. He attributed the shortages in some regions to hoarding by oil marketers amid fears of rising global prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.
“We have sufficient stock in the country,” Liban said, noting that recent operational challenges involving super petrol, coupled with speculation and panic buying, had strained distribution in the days leading up to the weekend.
The Principal Secretary added that the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) is actively addressing the situation to restore normal supply. He further disclosed that more than 100 million litres of super petrol had been injected into the system as of March 19—enough to sustain national demand for over a week.
The reassurances come against the backdrop of heightened global energy concerns, as escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran threaten critical oil supply routes. Of particular concern is the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime corridor handling a significant share of global oil shipments, where recent disruptions have fueled market uncertainty.