The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has shut down a petrol station linked to the son of former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, Ronald Odhiambo Kidero following claims of storing adultered fuel.
The regulation authority has on a temporary basis closed Ridgeways Shell petrol station along Kiambu Road, Nairobi and put a caution measure around indicating there will be no activities there.
This was despite an order issued in court on Friday stopping the officials from closing it.
[caption caption="Ronald Kidero in Court"]
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The action was taken hours after, Ronald denied in court storing substandard petroleum products which do not meet quality standards as set by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
He was charged with being in possession of 14,000 litres of petrol and 28,000 litres of diesel all of which were substandard.
“On August 3, 2018, at Ridgeways Shell petrol station, along Kiambu Road in Nairobi, the accused, jointly with others before Court was found to have stored petroleum products namely diesel and motor vehicle gasoline in two petroleum storage tanks,” the charge read.
On Saturday, Odhiambo mentioned that the move to close his station was wrong and malicious.
He also indicated he would challenge the move insisting he complied with all requirements of handling the products.
This is not the first time that the fuel station has been shut down, in 2016 Vivo Energy Kenya closed the station following reports of ATM card skimming at the outlet.
Attendants used a skimmer to obtain data from motorists’ debit and credit cards which they later used to duplicate ATM cards and withdraw money illegally.
[caption caption="Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero"]
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