A total of 49 ships are expected to arrive at the Port of Mombasa and Lamu Port in the next two weeks, according to a new schedule released by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
The schedule, dated April 8, shows that most of the vessels will dock in Mombasa, while only six will head to Lamu.
The four oil tankers carrying different petroleum products among others expected include Velos Turquoise that is due to arrive on April 9 carrying gas oil. It will be followed by Beaufort carrying butane also due to arrive the same day.
Others include Bow Aquarius that is expected to dock on April 12 carrying base oil, and Atahualpa that is also expected on April 13 carrying similar cargo.
Apart from the oil tankers, there are many others carrying different goods ranging from containers, automobiles, wheat, fertiliser, steel coils and general cargo.
It should be noted that the delivery of oil by the tankers comes amid shortages in certain areas in the country. There have been occasions where motorists would have to queue up for petroleum products at fuel stations in Nairobi and elsewhere.
In locations like Nakuru and Kericho, motorists would have to cover longer distances to obtain fuel, and in Nyamira, various fuel stations have had to close shop due to shortages of supplies.
EPRA has issued an alert to the oil companies cautioning them not to engage in fuel hoarding activities or ration the supply in order to increase the prices of the commodity. According to EPRA, such activities are considered illegal under the Petroleum Act.
Moreover, the regulator expressed its worries over the rising concerns regarding the sale of fuel above the set wholesale prices by some fuel dealers.
In contrast, KPC has offered assurance to Kenyans that there is no cause for alarm as far as fuel supply is concerned. According to KPC, the country currently has adequate supplies of fuel in the storage facilities.
