The Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Monica Juma has put a section of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) on notice for causing the current fuel crisis in the country.

Juma was addressing the media on Thursday morning when she accused some OMCs of economic sabotage.

She said the government has established that some players in the fuel industry are deliberately hoarding fuel with the intention of ripping huge profits that they expect to be occasioned by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) prices review against the backdrop of sufficient supply.

"The country has sufficient fuel stocks. We have determined that some players are hoarding fuel with hopes that a review in prices will provide them with a financial windfall," Juma said.

The CS warned individuals adding to the fuel crisis that the government will not entertain them and asked unwilling players who cannot work within the lawfully defined framework to leave the market promptly.

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"This government will not tolerate any entity or person causing distress or creating an artificial problem. Any entity not ready, able or willing to work within the framework of the laws of Kenya is invited to vacate this market promptly," the Energy CS said.

Juma also warned some retailers who are currently hiking the price of fuel that the government will take stern action against such merchants.

"It has also been noted that some retailers were offering fuel at higher prices in breach of Section 99 (1n) of the Petroleum Act 2019. Consequently, EPRA has issued show-cause letters to those companies or persons. If found in breach, I assure you we will take stern action,” Juma warned.

Juma said regardless of the many meetings the government has held and measures it has taken to resolve the current fuel shortage crisis, the problem is far from over courtesy of a few individuals. She asserted that was unacceptable and termed it a capital crime.

"We have decided as a government that this isn't acceptable. This is deliberate economic sabotage and a capital crime," Juma said.

The Energy CS’ stern address comes just a few hours after the Kenyan government deported the Managing Director and CEO Rubis Kenya Jean-Christian Bergeron was deported on the accusation of committing economic sabotage that caused the current fuel crisis.

Juma's warnings have also come when Kenyans are eagerly waiting to know their fate following this month's review of fuel prices by EPRA.