This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
On July 18, 2019, a shocking revelation of fuel siphoning along the Mombasa-Nairobi pipeline came to light, putting the contractor, Zakhem International Construction, under sharp scrutiny.
The Lebanese firm, contracted by the Government to build the Sh48 billion pipeline, is now being investigated following the discovery of a syndicate in which siphoning of oil has been going on around Mlolongo area.
According to investigators, the junction through which the fuel was being tapped could only have been created before the 20-inch pipe was buried in the soil, indicating that the thieves would have stolen millions of litres since August last year, when the pipeline was commissioned.
Staff collusion is suspected, with investigators believing that there would have to be collusion between the Kenya Pipeline and Company's (KPA) engineers to have the illegal connection installed.
John Ngumi, KPA chairman, confirmed that his staff were likely involved in the scam as the theft required complex skills to execute.
“It is very possible that the pipeline was compromised before it was laid,” Ngumi said.
He added that a team on the ground had found “potential hotspots” and was looking at signs such as new petrol stations to unravel the theft puzzle.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i personally visited the siphoning scene to assess how the theft could have happened, and it is widely anticipated that several senior officials could be fired and likely prosecuted over the theft.
