Peter Salasya. Photo/Courtesy
Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has questioned the government’s proposal to privatise the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), framing the move as a critical test of transparency and accountability in the management of profitable state assets.
In a statement shared on X, Salasya directly challenged President William Ruto’s administration to explain why KPC, a consistently performing parastatal, has been identified for privatisation.
He argued that the government has yet to present convincing public reasons for opening a stable and strategic company to private ownership.
The legislator noted that KPC operates extensive infrastructure across the country, enjoys a guaranteed market, and records predictable revenues.
He said these characteristics set it apart from struggling state corporations that typically justify privatisation or public listing due to financial distress or capital constraints.
Salasya called for full disclosure on what the government intends to achieve through the proposed listing.
He questioned whether KPC faces specific operational or financial limitations that cannot be addressed through its current income or traditional public financing options.
Without such explanations, he warned that the proposal risks being viewed as policy driven by private profit rather than public interest.
He further cautioned that KPC is not an ordinary commercial entity but a strategic asset central to Kenya’s fuel supply and economic stability.
According to Salasya, any decision affecting its ownership structure should meet a higher threshold of public scrutiny and national consensus.
Placing the debate within the wider context of development financing, the MP suggested alternative approaches for funding major infrastructure projects.
He proposed that projects such as key transport corridors be financed through infrastructure bonds or project-specific listings, rather than by diluting public ownership of successful state institutions.
Salasya’s remarks add to the growing national debate on privatisation as the government pursues economic reforms.
His position underscores rising political pressure on the administration to balance fiscal ambitions with the protection of strategic assets and public trust.