Kenya’s petroleum sector has been thrown into turmoil after a major fuel import scandal exposed alleged irregularities in emergency procurement and triggered a wave of high‑level resignations — but the Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary, Opiyo Wandayi, remains in office.
By April 4, 2026, the scandal had already claimed the positions of five senior officials directly involved in Kenya’s energy administration.
Those who have publicly resigned include Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban, Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Managing Director Joe Sang, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director‑General Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, Deputy Director of Petroleum Joseph Wafula, and KPC supply and logistics manager Joel Mburu.
Arrests by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) preceded their departures amid allegations of manipulated fuel stock data, irregular emergency fuel imports and substandard product distribution.
The resignations followed an intense probe into an emergency fuel cargo procured outside Kenya’s established Government‑to‑Government (G‑to‑G) framework, said to be overpriced, of inferior quality and inconsistent with standard procurement procedures. L
Investigators allege that some officials may have fabricated fuel shortage data to justify the irregular import.
Social media personality and blogger Cyprian Nyakundi has weighed in on the matter, challenging why Wandayi remains in office while those directly involved have stepped down.
In a widely shared post, Nyakundi remarked: “Almost everyone around the petroleum and energy scandal is resigning, yet CS Opiyo Wandayi is still in office. That is what makes this so shocking and unimaginable.”
He urged Kenyans to ask why Wandayi, as the political head of the ministry, has not faced equivalent accountability.
“If nearly everyone under and around this mess is falling on their sword, how does the Cabinet Secretary remain untouched?” Nyakundi added, questioning how the CS can expect the public to believe he knew nothing, saw nothing, approved nothing and bears no political responsibility.
Nyakundi further argued that under any serious government, once a scandal reaches a level where principal secretaries, regulators, and state corporation bosses are resigning, the minister in charge should step aside or be removed, rather than issue press statements.
He said that anything less looks like selective accountability, warning that Wandayi cannot continue speaking as if he were merely an outside commentator.
The scandal has also drawn political pushback, with lawmakers such as Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale calling for Wandayi to either resign or face arrest and possible impeachment if found complicit.
Critics argue that as the ministry’s leader reporting directly to the President, the CS should bear responsibility for systemic oversight failures.
In response, CS Wandayi has defended his position, assuring the public that fuel supplies remain stable, investigations are ongoing, and the government is committed to an independent probe.
He has also warned against politicising the matter while promoting internal reviews to strengthen transparency and quality controls within the energy sector.
The unfolding situation continues to spark debate on political responsibility, governance, and accountability in Kenya’s strategic energy sector as investigations deepen and public pressure intensifies.