NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 17 – The Senate Energy Committee has directed the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum to establish and operationalise a digital system for real-time monitoring of petroleum stocks as part of efforts to strengthen fuel security.
The ministry, together with agencies including Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), has been given six months to report to the Senate on progress in developing the platform.
The system is expected to provide real-time information on fuel stocks and imports, helping the government monitor supply levels and respond faster to disruptions.
The committee wants oil marketing company-level data on stocks, imports and allocations to be made available to oversight institutions.
It has also recommended that daily petroleum stock reports be standardised and published in a consistent format, including on weekends and public holidays, to reduce information gaps during supply disruptions.
The recommendations follow a Senate inquiry into alleged irregularities in Kenya’s petroleum supply chain, including emergency fuel procurement undertaken in March 2026 after disruptions to marine traffic through the Strait of Hormuz affected fuel deliveries to Kenya.
The committee said the emergency procurement exposed weaknesses in the supply chain, including concerns over competition, transparency, documentation and accountability.
It found that the emergency fuel purchase was carried out outside the established Government-to-Government framework and without a documented derogation mechanism or pre-approved emergency procurement procedure.
The committee has consequently directed the Ministry of Energy to develop and operationalise a statutory framework for emergency petroleum procurement within six months.
The framework is expected to define the circumstances that would trigger a fuel supply emergency, the roles of government agencies, approval procedures, conditions for regulatory waivers and exemptions, and requirements for transparency and disclosure.
It should also provide for auditing and reviews after emergency procurement exercises.The committee further called for stronger coordination between agencies involved in the petroleum sector to ensure their emergency response protocols are aligned.
The measures are aimed at improving the government’s ability to monitor fuel supplies, respond to shortages and strengthen accountability in the petroleum supply chain.
