Kenya Fuel Shortage Caused by Technical Hitch, Says CS Wandayi as Supply Returns to Normal
Nairobi, Kenya – The Kenyan government has moved to calm public anxiety following sporadic fuel shortages that affected select filling stations across the country in recent days, with Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi confirming that the disruption has been resolved and normal supply is being restored.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, CS Wandayi attributed the temporary shortages to a “technical and administrative hitch” that interfered with the smooth uptake of petroleum products by a section of oil marketing companies within the downstream supply chain. The CS emphasized that the disruption, which sparked concern among motorists and businesses, was limited to isolated filling stations in different parts of the country and did not reflect a broader national shortage of fuel.
“The matter has since been resolved, and we are working closely with industry stakeholders to normalise deliveries,” Wandayi stated. He confirmed that fuel restocking efforts are already underway across affected areas, with normal supply levels expected to be restored nationwide by the end of the day, effectively easing fears of a prolonged crisis. The CS reassured the public that Kenya has sufficient fuel reserves to meet current demand, urging consumers to remain calm and avoid panic buying. “The Ministry wishes to reassure Kenyans that the country has adequate fuel stocks. There should be no cause for alarm,” he said.
Despite the government’s assurances, complaints had emerged from sections of the public who reported difficulties finding fuel. In Nairobi, motorists were turned away at several service stations within the central business district due to a lack of products. Fred Mucheru, a taxi driver, described moving from one petrol station to another only to find queues building before finally managing to refuel. Macmilan Midarimo, a boda boda rider, noted that some riders were charging above normal prices because they had struggled to secure fuel, adding that many petrol stations in the CBD were empty.
The shortages also highlighted deeper tensions within the downstream supply chain. Independent dealers, who serve wider parts of the country and account for up to 68 percent of fueling points while moving 40 percent of industry volumes, reported struggling to secure products. According to the Petroleum Outlets Association of Kenya (POAK) chairman, Martin Chomba, major oil marketing companies have made it difficult for independents to obtain fuel, forcing them to buy at the pump from major OMCs. Some major players are limiting the quantities they sell to smaller dealers, with others completely locking them out of the supply chain. This forces consumers to crowd into fewer stations in towns, exacerbating the appearance of shortages.
The recent disruption adds to previous challenges in the sector. At the beginning of May, global refined petroleum product supplies were experiencing significant tightening, particularly in jet fuel and industrial feedstocks, despite an overall abundance of crude oil. Kenya had reportedly been struggling to secure products for import, with vessel availability proving difficult, according to industry players. This has hurt shipments into the country even as the government insists supply remains stable. Additionally, in the first week of April, hoarding of products by major oil marketing companies in anticipation of a price increase was blamed for similar shortages witnessed at that time.
CS Wandayi reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining energy security and ensuring an uninterrupted fuel supply to households, businesses, and industries, underscoring the critical role of petroleum products in supporting economic stability. As restocking efforts continue, the government maintains that the country has adequate fuel stocks and that the technical hitch has been fully resolved, with normalcy expected to return across all outlets by the end of the day.
