Former Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban, former Kenya Pipeline Company Managing Director Joe Sang, and former EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo have been released from police custody days after being linked to a controversial fuel importation scandal.
The three were released on Monday, April 6, on police bail pending further investigations and possible court arraignment. It remains unclear whether formal charges will be filed against them.
According to their lawyers, the officials did not engage in any wrongdoing in the Ksh4.8 billion scandal. The legal team argued that their actions were based on recommendations from the National Security Council Committee (NSCC) issued on March 9.
Documents reportedly show that the committee advised sourcing emergency fuel from alternative suppliers to protect the country from possible disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.
Meanwhile, at least 20 other individuals have recorded statements with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over the matter.
Among them is a senior manager from a major petroleum company believed to have played a key role in the importation of 69 million litres of substandard fuel.
Following the arrests, several agencies, including the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) and the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), issued statements assuring Kenyans that public resources would be safeguarded.
After Kiptoo’s resignation, EPRA appointed Joseph Oketch as acting Director General, with his swearing-in expected midweek. Other affected institutions are yet to announce replacements.
The scandal revolves around an emergency fuel import deal conducted outside the Government-to-Government (G2G) framework Kenya has with Saudi Arabia. The deal is said to have caused a price variance of up to Ksh43.4 per litre compared to the official pricing structure.
In response, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has proposed a Ksh15 billion penalty on those involved—five times the estimated loss—to protect taxpayers.
UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar said the government is considering strict punitive measures to deter similar incidents in the future.
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