Faith Nyasuguta
Kenya has confirmed the deportation of the French chief executive of one of the biggest oil marketers in Kenya amid a ravaging fuel shortage crisis.
Following a move by Kenya’s energy regulator to act against oil marketers creating an artificial fuel shortage in the nation,
Rubis Energy Kenya CEO Jean-Christian Bergeron was the first person to be sanctioned. Mr Bergeron has not yet commented.
Kenya’s Energy Ministry has constantly affirmed that the nation has sufficient stocks of petroleum products and the scarcity is a result of some oil markerters hoarding and prioritising exports to neighbouring countries. It noted that the behaviour amounts to economic sabotage.
“The government will not tolerate any entity or person that is causing distress by creating an artificial problem. Any entity that is not ready or willing to work within the framework of the laws of Kenya is invited to vacate this market promptly,” said Energy Minister Monica Juma.
According to the government, $295m (£225m) owed to oil marketers had been paid, while the remaining $121m would be paid later on Thursday.
Kenya has been experiencing countrywide fuel shortages over the last two weeks, paralyzing transport and economic activities.
The government says it expects normality to be restored in a maximum of three days.
