By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 5 April 2026 - President William Ruto has issued a strong warning to individuals accused of manipulating Kenya’s fuel supply system, vowing decisive action against what he described as entrenched cartels in the oil sector.
Speaking during a church service in Kilgoris, the President said those behind recent irregularities would face the full force of the law.
“Cartels in the oil industry will face the music. They will not get away with it because it cannot happen in our country,” Ruto said.
His remarks come in the wake of a major shake-up in the energy sector, where senior officials stepped down following allegations linked to questionable fuel imports and possible manipulation of supply data.
Investigations are focusing on claims that false stock figures may have been used to justify emergency fuel imports outside the official government-to-government framework, raising concerns about transparency in the sector.
Ruto suggested that some players were taking advantage of global tensions, including the ongoing Middle East conflict, to create artificial shortages locally.
“We have a problem in the Middle East, yet they still want to create another problem in the country,” he said.
The President maintained that his administration would not tolerate corruption or economic sabotage, reiterating his hardline stance on accountability.
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“We will not negotiate about corruption. We will act decisively to end the menace,” he said.
Pointing to previous interventions in sectors such as fertiliser, sugar and coffee, Ruto said the government had already demonstrated its willingness to dismantle cartels.
“We had cartels… and we dealt with them. Today those sectors are working,” he said.
With investigations ongoing, the President signalled that further action could follow, warning that the crackdown would be comprehensive.
“We must have accountability in Kenya,” he added.
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