A delay in government subsidy payouts has caused a fuel crisis that has bitten hard in the lives of Kenyans across the country.

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) revealed this through a statement issued revealed.

“There have been delays in remitting compensation from the stabilisation fund and this has resulted in a number of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) holding back sales to the local market,” EPRA said.

Various parts of the country, including the capital city Nairobi, have reported fuel shortages in most filling stations.

EPRA also said that the shortage is caused by logistical constraints which limited supply to independent petroleum dealers.

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“The shortage is occasioned by unprecedented logistical constraints. These challenges have caused independent petroleum dealers to run out of petroleum stocks,” EPRA said.


According to EPRA, the country has sufficient stock of fuel. However, prices of petroleum in the international markets have been on an escalating trend.

This caused Government to implement a petroleum stabilisation mechanism in order to cushion consumers from the otherwise high pump prices.

EPRA has therefore directed all Oil Marketing Companies to release petroleum supplies immediately to solve the current supply crisis.

The authority cautioned Oil Marketing Companies, depots and filling stations against hoarding the product.


“OMCs, depot and retail station operators are hereby cautioned that in accordance with Section 99(1)(k) and 99(1)(n) of the Petroleum Act 2019, it is an offence punishable by law to hoard petroleum or to sell above the published price,” EPRA warned.

EPRA also assured Kenyans it will continue monitoring the supply chain keenly, engage all concerned stakeholders and intervene whenever it is necessary to ensure restoration of the supply of petroleum in the entire country.