Petroleum and Mining Principal Secretary, Andrew Kamau, has warned that the government will sanction oil marketers and suppliers who have been hoarding fuel to create an artificial oil shortage.
Speaking on Citizen TV on Monday, April 4, PS Kamau explained that the acute fuel shortage in some parts of the country was caused by some deliberate actions by oil marketers.
He stated that some chose to hoard the commodity while others intentionally hiked the prices owing to the countrywide shortage.
The PS noted that the government had since launched investigations and once they are done, oil marketers found culpable will be sanctioned with immediate effect.
According to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), hoarding of fuel, hiking prices, and other unauthorised activities may lead to revocation of licenses.
"If you violate the conditions of your license, we will sanction you," PS Kamau warned.
EPRA is tasked with monitoring petroleum products offered for sale in the local market. The monitoring exercise is aimed at preventing motor fuel adulteration or dumping of export bound fuels.
The authority further undertakes retail pricing of petroleum products including diesel, super petrol, and kerosene as stipulated in the Energy Regulations, 2010.
Addressing the issue raised by Deputy President William Ruto who alleged that some oil companies have been given preferential treatment, the PS dispelled the reports insisting that the distribution and issuing of subsidies is strictly guided by law.
He had earlier blamed the motorists for the shortage of fuel arguing that panic-buying was triggered by oil marketers, who sent out an alert that soon they would be unable to ship in fuel if the government fails to pay billions in subsidy it owes them.
To avert further escalation of the oil shortage, President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the Supplementary Appropriation Bill (Supplementary Budget) that would see Ksh34.44 billion released to oil marketing companies.
The oil marketers had accused the government of withholding subsidy arrears for four months, making it hard for them to be in a position to ship in fresh oil imports from oil-producing countries.
