EPRA Issues Show-Cause Notices to 14 Filling Stations Amid Fuel Shortages and Price Violations

Recent warnings by the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) have already pointed to possible supply manipulation by oil marketers, suggesting that the current disruption is not solely driven by global factors, but also local market behaviour.

Globally, the situation has been exacerbated by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supply affected by the ongoing Iran–US–Israel conflict. 

These disruptions have tightened supply chains and driven up prices internationally, placing additional pressure on import-dependent markets such as Kenya.

Industry insiders indicate that the violations reflect mounting pressure at the retail level, where dealers are caught between fixed government price controls, rising wholesale costs and uncertainty in supply.

In such an environment, some operators resort to overpricing fuel, rationing supply or selectively selling to preferred customers in a bid to cushion their margins.

Despite these pressures, regulators maintain that price controls must be adhered to, emphasizing that consumer protection remains paramount regardless of market volatility.

As the crisis unfolds, ordinary Kenyans continue to bear the brunt. Motorists are grappling with higher transport costs, limited access to fuel and unpredictable pricing, while small businesses that rely on fuel for operations face immediate and severe disruptions.

The violations uncovered by EPRA suggest that in some areas, consumers may have been unknowingly overcharged, further compounding the already high cost of living.

EPRA’s crackdown signals a tightening of enforcement, but also exposes the limits of regulation during a supply crisis. While price caps are designed to shield consumers, they become increasingly difficult to enforce when supply chains are strained and market pressures intensify.

The coming weeks will be critical as the regulator weighs its next steps, including the possibility of suspending licences, imposing fines or pursuing further legal action against non-compliant operators.

What is emerging is a complex crisis driven by both global shocks and local market behaviour.

From oil facility attacks in the Middle East to alleged hoarding in Kenya, the fuel supply chain is under pressure at every level.

EPRA’s enforcement action is therefore not just about compliance, it is about restoring order in a market at risk of spiraling out of control.

For now, the show-cause notices mark the beginning of what could become a wider crackdown on rogue operators as authorities race to stabilise the fuel market.