Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has dismissed calls for his resignation over the ongoing substandard fuel saga, saying he has done nothing wrong.
He was speaking on Monday before a parliamentary committee, where he was asked to explain how the fuel entered the country
Some leaders and Kenyans have been calling on him to step aside over the matter, which is said to involve about KSh4.8 billion.
But the CS said there is no reason for him to resign, adding that investigations will clear him.
“When everything is looked at, there is no reason stopping me from continuing with my work,” he told the committee.
During the session, Wandayi explained how the fuel was brought into the country, saying it did not follow the usual government-to-government deal.
He said the process was handled by other officials, including the Principal Secretary and a technical team, before it was approved.
He said if anything was changed from the normal process, it should have been approved at a higher level something he says did not happen.
“If it was brought to me, I would have taken it up and even escalated it to the President,” he said.
However, Wandayi explained that he did not know about the resignation of three top government officers in the energy sector, saying that they could have resigned on their own accord. The committee members have now requested that he provide copies of the letters of resignation.
Even as concerns grow over fuel supply, the CS said the government has done enough to ensure there is enough fuel in the country.
He warned some traders against hiding fuel in anticipation of price increases.
“We have information that some players are hoarding fuel. We are warning them,” he said.
Regarding the upcoming review of the expected fuel prices by Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Wandayi could not make any comment until the official release of the news.
He assured Kenyans that the cost of the disputed fuel will not be included in the new prices.
He asked Kenyans to stay calm and wait for the official update from the regulator.
