Kenya’s Ksh4 billion fuel scandal is spinning out of control. Three senior energy officials have resigned hours after their arrest, disciplinary proceedings are underway against two more, and now the heat is turning on Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi.
Lawmakers are demanding his immediate arrest or resignation, warning that if President William Ruto fails to act, Parliament will. Wandayi has gone silent, issuing no public statement even as the scandal consuming his ministry grows darker by the hour.
How the Ksh4 Billion Fuel Scandal Unravelled Kenya’s Energy Sector from the Inside
The scandal broke on Thursday when the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested four senior energy officials — Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director General Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Managing Director Joe Sang, Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban, and KPC Deputy Director Joseph Wafula — over allegations of procuring and distributing substandard fuel into the Kenyan market.
Investigators believe the officials manipulated data on in-country fuel stocks to create a false impression of an impending shortage. That manufactured crisis then triggered an emergency procurement of a fuel consignment that violated Kenya’s government-to-government (G-to-G) oil supply agreement with Gulf nations.
President Ruto’s office was direct in its assessment. “This appears to have been done to exploit rising global prices and public anxiety, thereby creating a false impression of an impending supply shortfall,” the President stated.
MV Paloma’s Diverted Cargo Blows Open a Ksh4 Billion Fraud at the Heart of Kenya’s Fuel Supply Chain
The consignment at the center of the scandal arrived aboard vessel MV Paloma, allegedly diverted from Angola to the Port of Mombasa under murky circumstances. Preliminary findings suggest the shipment, reportedly originating from Saudi Aramco, was overpriced by over Ksh4 billion and failed to meet Kenya’s fuel quality standards.
Ruto’s office did not mince words. “The shipment in question was procured in blatant breach of the G2G framework, at a price significantly above the contracted rates, in complete disregard of established emergency procurement procedures, and was of substandard quality,” the statement read.
Liban was released from custody on medical grounds, but Kiptoo, Sang, and Wafula remain detained. All three resigned from their positions following their arrest, with a letter signed by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei on April 4 confirming their exits.
The government has since launched disciplinary proceedings against Wafula and KPC Supply and Logistics Manager Joel Mburu. KPC’s board moved quickly, appointing Pius Mwendwa as acting Managing Director and reassuring the public that operations remain stable.
Lawmakers Turn Guns on Wandayi as Calls for Arrest and Resignation Grow Louder
With three officials gone and investigations deepening, legislators are now pointing their fingers squarely at CS Opiyo Wandayi, the man who sits at the top of Kenya’s energy ministry.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has led the charge, demanding that Wandayi either face arrest or step down immediately. Khalwale argues that Wandayi cannot escape accountability, whether he knew about the scandal or not.
“CS Opiyo Wandayi’s core responsibility is to develop, implement, review, and enforce policies in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum. He is the leader, reporting directly to the president,” Khalwale said bluntly.
He went further. “Wandayi knew or ought to have known the diversion of condemned fuel worth Ksh4 billion into the Kenyan market. If he knew, he must be arrested immediately for criminal culpability. If he didn’t know, he must take political responsibility and resign or be sacked,” the senator added.
Khalwale also warned that the executive cannot afford to drag its feet. He urged the National Assembly to consider impeachment proceedings against Wandayi if President Ruto fails to take decisive action. That warning raises the political stakes significantly, signaling that the scandal could soon move from the streets into the chambers of Parliament.
Despite the mounting pressure, Wandayi has stayed silent. He has not addressed Kenyans, issued a statement, or appeared publicly to explain what happened under his watch. That silence is speaking volumes, and it is angering many.
Hidden Interests Inside Kenya’s Fuel Sector Add a Darker Layer to the Scandal
While legislators push for accountability at the top, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro is pointing to a different and more troubling dimension of the Ksh4 billion fuel scandal — one that goes beyond the arrested officials.
Nyoro alleges that the arrests may have less to do with protecting Kenyan consumers and more to do with internal power struggles among well-connected players who profit from Kenya’s fuel supply chain.
“It has very little to do with the welfare of Kenyans, and it has everything to do with small people who have eaten what belongs to the big man. Kenyans need to know this clearly so we can unveil whatever is hidden in our fuel sector,” Nyoro claimed.
He also took aim at the G-to-G fuel importation framework itself, alleging that the model has long operated as a business vehicle for powerful, politically-connected interests rather than a genuine mechanism for securing affordable fuel for ordinary Kenyans.
All Eyes on Ruto as the Scandal Demands More Than Resignations
The resignations of Kiptoo, Sang, and Liban have not satisfied the public or lawmakers. If anything, their exits have intensified questions about who else knew, who else benefited, and whether the rot runs deeper than three officials.
President Ruto now faces a defining moment. The government has promised thorough investigations and pledged that those found guilty will face charges under the economic crimes framework. But pressure is building for action that goes beyond promises—action that reaches the Cabinet.
Wandayi’s continued silence makes his position increasingly untenable. Every hour he stays quiet and in office, the questions around him grow louder. Kenya is watching, and so is Parliament.
