People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has demanded the resignation of Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi over the recent fuel scandal, raising questions about accountability in Kenya’s energy sector.
Speaking on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, during an interview with K24 TV, Karua said Wandayi should have resigned immediately. She argued that the CS, as the head of the energy sector, either knew about the scandal or lacked the competence to manage the office.
“In the energy sector, there is a minister, and that is Opiyo Wandayi. There is no way something of that magnitude happens under his watch, and he doesn’t know. And if he truly doesn’t know, he has no business in that office,” Karua said.
She added, “You are paid to know what is happening, and if he didn’t know and it is a thing of this magnitude, come on, take political responsibility as your guys get arrested, throw in the towel, and go home because you have failed.”
Karua’s remarks came a day after Wandayi denied knowledge of the shipment and ordered the withdrawal of a 60,000-metric-tonne consignment of Super Petrol, canceling all invoices issued to oil marketing companies.
He said the shipment had been imported “in contravention of the procedures set out under the G-to-G contractual framework with international suppliers,” warning that it posed risks to the stability of Kenya’s fuel supply system.
At the heart of the controversy is a pricing discrepancy. According to Wandayi, the consignment was invoiced at approximately Ksh 198,000 per metric tonne, compared to Ksh 140,000 per metric tonne under Kenya’s Government-to-Government (G-to-G) fuel import arrangement.
“This consignment is priced at Ksh 198,000 per metric tonne… an increase of Ksh 58,000 per metric tonne, which would result in an approximate rise of Ksh 14 per litre in pump prices on this consignment alone,” Wandayi stated.
Officials warned that allowing such fuel into the market could have triggered higher pump prices and disrupted the pricing stability achieved under the G-to-G framework.
The shipment arrived at the Port of Mombasa between March 27 and 29 following an emergency request by the government to address a looming fuel shortage. The crisis reportedly started after a separate consignment of 114.7 million litres of petrol sourced from Emirates National Oil Company failed to leave Dubai due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting planned supply chains.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale also demanded that Wandayi either resign or face arrest over the scandal.
In a post on X on Saturday, April 4, 2026, Khalwale said CS Wandayi had a duty to prevent the diversion of condemned fuel worth Ksh 4 billion into the Kenyan market.
“CS Opiyo Wandayi’s core responsibility is to develop, implement, review and enforce policies in the Ministry of Energy & Petroleum.
He is the leader, reporting directly to the president. He knew or ought to have known the diversion of condemned fuel worth Ksh4 billion by those three thieves into the Kenyan market,” Khalwale said.
Khalwale further stated, “If he knew, he must be arrested immediately for criminal culpability. If he didn’t know, he must immediately take political responsibility and resign or be sacked for cross incompetence.”
The fuel scandal has sparked a national debate on transparency and accountability in Kenya’s energy sector, with pressure mounting on the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum to implement stricter oversight mechanisms to prevent future crises.
Industry experts have noted that pricing discrepancies in critical imports like fuel can have long-lasting effects on both the economy and public trust.
Karua’s call for resignation highlights a growing political tension, signaling that Kenya’s energy policy and management could become central topics ahead of upcoming national discussions.
Analysts suggest that decisive action is required to maintain stability in fuel supply and ensure adherence to international procurement standards.
