Investigators probing Kenya’s fuel scandal are now turning attention from lower-ranking officials to possible decision-making at the highest levels of government, focusing on waivers, approvals, and inter-ministerial communication.
The probe follows the arrests and resignations of three senior officials: former EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, former Kenya Pipeline Company Managing Director Joe Sang, and former Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban. Authorities suspect the trio played key roles in facilitating a controversial fuel consignment.
Central to the investigation are leaked letters and official correspondence suggesting the importation process involved approvals from both the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Trade. Investigators are examining waiver approvals and communication that may have allowed the consignment to enter Kenya despite concerns over compliance and quality standards.
Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui is reportedly linked to the case due to his role in approving waivers. While he maintains his office acted within the law through conditional approvals, the correspondence has placed him under scrutiny as detectives trace the chain of accountability.
Critics argue the resignations of top technocrats signal limited accountability, noting that political leadership of the ministry remains under question. Emerging reports suggest the scandal may have involved collusion between senior state officials and influential Mombasa-based business figures, possibly exploiting fears of fuel shortages to fast-track shipments outside standard procedures.
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