Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has come out in defence of senior government officials who were recently arrested and resigned over alleged manipulation of fuel data, claiming they are being unfairly targeted.
On Saturday, April 4, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director General Daniel Kiptoo, Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Managing Director Joe Sang, and Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban resigned.
Their exit followed allegations that they altered fuel stock data to influence the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum into approving the importation of emergency fuel.
Chief of Staff Felix Koskei also confirmed that disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Deputy Director Joseph Wafula and Supply and Logistics Manager Joel Mburu within the State Department for Petroleum and KPC, widening the scope of the ongoing probe.
The five officials are accused of falsifying data on the country’s fuel reserves.
According to President William Ruto, the misleading figures were used to justify the irregular procurement of emergency fuel cargo.
However, speaking during a thanksgiving ceremony for Kariara Ward MCA Gichoge Mbatia, Gachagua dismissed the claims, insisting the officials were being punished for resisting interests within the fuel supply chain.
“For William Ruto, ikifika biashara hana mtu yao. Biashara yake iko mbele,” Gachagua said. “Let the MD Kenya Pipeline, the DG EPRA and the PS go home… the only crime they have committed is denying William Ruto more profit.”
The DCP party leader further alleged that firms such as Stabex International and Gulf Energy operate as proxy entities linked to the President and have been involved in fuel importation under the government-to-government arrangement.
He claimed that energy sector officials, led by Joe Sang, had moved to secure fuel supplies in a bid to cushion Kenyans from rising costs, a decision he suggested put them at odds with senior figures in government.
Gachagua further alleged that Sang and his colleagues were reported to the President and later summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, setting the stage for the current crackdown.
He warned that plans to revert fuel imports to the conventional supply chain could see pump prices rise by more than Ksh40 per litre, arguing that such a move would place an even heavier burden on consumers.
The controversy comes at a time when Kenya continues to rely on the government-to-government fuel import framework introduced to stabilize supply and ease pressure on the shilling, even as concerns grow over transparency and pricing within the system.
