Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director General Daniel Kiptoo, Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Managing Director Joe Sang, and Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban have resigned following allegations linked to a controversial fuel importation deal, President William Ruto has announced.
The announcement was communicated through a letter from the Office of the President, signed by Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, dated April 4, 2026. The letter confirmed the acceptance of resignations and noted that the exits followed decisions made by the respective boards of the institutions.
At the same time, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Deputy Director of the State Department of Petroleum Joseph Wafula and KPC Supply and Logistics Manager Joel Mburu. Authorities said these administrative actions are part of ongoing investigations into the matter.
The resignations and disciplinary actions come in the wake of arrests by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) of the four senior officials. Investigators allege the individuals were involved in procuring and distributing substandard fuel into the Kenyan market.
Preliminary investigations indicate that a shipment aboard MV Paloma, originally destined for Angola, was allegedly diverted to the Port of Mombasa and later released into local supply chains. Reports suggest the fuel, sourced from Saudi Aramco, may have been overpriced by over Ksh4 billion and failed to meet national quality standards.
The government has reassured Kenyans that investigations will be thorough, and anyone found culpable will face charges under the economic crimes framework. Officials emphasized that measures will be implemented to correct irregular fuel procurement practices and ensure compliance with the government-to-government (G-to-G) contractual framework.
Authorities also stressed that these steps aim to restore public confidence in the petroleum sector while safeguarding consumers from substandard fuel and potential market losses.
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