Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of personally profiting from Kenya’s Government-to-Government (G-to-G) fuel import deal, throwing fresh fuel claims into an already heated political moment following a sharp rise in pump prices.
Speaking to journalists in Karen, Nairobi on Wednesday, Gachagua claimed the President earns KSh 5 on every litre of fuel brought into the country under the arrangement.
He said this could amount to about KSh 2.5 billion from the current fuel supply cycle alone. However, he did not provide documentary evidence to support the allegation, which remains unverified.
His claims come just a day after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced one of the steepest fuel price increases in recent years.
In the latest review, petrol rose by KSh 28.69 per litre while diesel jumped by KSh 40.3, adding fresh pressure on households and businesses already struggling with the high cost of living.
Gachagua also linked several senior government officials and a private firm to what he described as a “fuel scandal.”
He named Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, and oil marketer Gulf Energy.
He alleged that the company operates as a proxy in the deal and accused Wandayi of skipping a parliamentary summons to travel to Dubai for fuel price negotiations on behalf of the President.
The accusations have quickly drawn political reactions, with opposition leaders calling for the resignation of Energy CS Wandayi and Trade CS Lee Kinyanjui.
They are also pushing for a special sitting of the National Assembly to debate and possibly scrap the G-to-G fuel import framework.
The government has consistently defended the arrangement, introduced in 2023, as a necessary stabilisation measure.
Officials say it helps ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves, guarantees steady fuel supply, and cushions the market from global price shocks.
They maintain that fuel prices are still determined by international benchmarks, shipping costs and taxes, and have not indicated any structure that allows direct per-litre payments to individuals.
With fuel prices climbing and public pressure mounting, attention is likely to shift to Parliament and oversight agencies to determine whether the claims will trigger formal investigations or a broader review of the fuel import system.
For now, the allegations remain unproven, but they have added a new layer of tension to an already contentious debate over the cost of living.
