Pressure Mounts for CS Wandayi’s arrest and resignation as fuel scandal deepens
Pressure Mounts for CS Wandayi's arrest and resignation as fuel scandal deepens
All eyes are on President William Ruto as pressure mounts for him to fire Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi if he does not resign voluntarily over the fuel scandal that broke on Thursday.
According to a statement from the Office of the President via a letter that was signed by the Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff, Felix Koskei, and dated April 4, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director General Daniel Kiptoo, Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Managing Director Joe Sang, Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban and Petroleum Deputy Director Joseph Wafula may have manipulated data on in-country fuel stocks.
This manipulation, the President argues, led the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum to irregularly procure an emergency fuel cargo.
This shipment is said to have cost about Ksh4 billion, and its procurement is against the G-2-G agreement Kenya inked with Gulf countries for oil supply.
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“The shipment in question was procured in blatant breach of the G2G framework, at a price significantly above the contracted rates, in complete disregard of established emergency procurement procedures, and was of substandard quality,” Ruto’s office stated.
President Ruto said, “This appears to have been done to exploit rising global prices and public anxiety, thereby creating a false impression of an impending supply shortfall.” Kiptoo, Sang, Liban, and Wafula were all arrested on Thursday. Liban was released on medical grounds, but Kiptoo, Sang, and Wafula remain in police custody.
Kiptoo, Sang, and Liban have since resigned from their offices.
Following these reports, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has led the growing call for immediate action against Wandayi, including arrest or resignation, for what he describes as gross incompetence.
“CS Opiyo Wandayi’s core responsibility is to develop, implement, review, and enforce policies in the Ministry of Energy & Petroleum. He is the leader, reporting directly to the President,” Khalwale said.
“He knew or ought to have known the diversion of condemned fuel worth Ksh4 billion into the Kenyan market. If he knew, he must be arrested immediately for criminal culpability. If he didn’t know, he must take political responsibility and resign or be sacked,” he added.
Khalwale further warned that failure by the executive to act should trigger parliamentary intervention, urging the National Assembly to consider impeachment proceedings if no action is taken.
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