Kenya Senate issues 60-day ultimatum over energy sector probe

The Kenyan Senate Energy Committee has issued a 60-day ultimatum to investigative agencies to submit a consolidated status report regarding a probe into three former energy sector officials. The deadline for the report is set for October 19.

The investigation targets former Principal Secretary for Petroleum Mohamed Liban, former Kenya Pipeline Company managing director Joe Sang, and former Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority director-general Daniel Kiptoo. The officials were arrested in April 2026 on allegations of manipulating fuel stock data to justify the emergency procurement of fuel at inflated prices.

Specifically, the probe examines contracts awarded to One Petroleum and Oryx Energies for approximately 60,000 tonnes of fuel each. One Petroleum reportedly quoted a premium of roughly US$290 per tonne, significantly higher than the US$84 premium typically seen under Kenya’s state-to-state oil credit arrangements. The Senate has called upon the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, the Public Service Commission, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to conclude all administrative and criminal proceedings expeditiously.