Fuel Overview

History of Petroleum Regulation in Kenya 

The Petroleum Act CAP 116 was enacted in 1948 (with a major revision in 1972) and was the major law governing the petroleum sub-sector until 2006. The petroleum sub-sector was highly regulated with price controls for the main products. When the sector was liberalized in 1994, various challenges were experienced such as proliferation of substandard petroleum facilities and products. To address the challenge, Sessional Paper No. 4 of 2004 set pace for a new law to regulate petroleum sector, hence the Energy Act No. 12 which was enacted in 2006. This Act established the now defunct Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). 

On 22nd March 2019, the Energy Act No. 1 of 2019 and Petroleum Act No. 2 of 2019 were passed into law. This effectively repealed the Energy Act No. 12 of 2006. The new laws established the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority with an added mandate of regulating the upstream and midstream petroleum subsectors. 

 

Infrastructure 

Petroleum supply chain is supported by the following critical infrastructure: 

1. Petroleum Receipt and back-loading jetties: 

• Kipevu Oil Jetty (KOT): This is located at Kipevu area, Mombasa County and handles large petroleum vessels. Product is then transferred to the government owned Kipevu Oil Storage Facility (KOSF). 

• Shimanzi Oil Terminal (SOT): This is used for importation of petroleum by small vessels. 

• Mbaraki: This is a privately owned facility. 

• Africa Gas & Oil Limited (AGOL): This is a dedicated LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) facility built under concessionary terms from the Kenya Ports Authority. It is connected to a common user manifold. The only storage depot connected to it is the AGOL mainland facility. 

• Kisumu Oil Jetty: This is located on the shores of Lake Victoria and is used for the exportation of petroleum products to the countries bordering the lake and into the Eastern DRC and South Sudan. 

2. Petroleum storage tanks: Kenya’s total storage capacity is over 1,500,000,000 litres spread out across the country. Over 700,000,000 litres of this are operated by the Kenya Pipeline Company as primary and intermediate storage. 

 

3. Petroleum pipelines: The pipeline system consists of trunk lines and distribution lines from Mombasa running through Nairobi to the Western Kenya towns of Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu totalling to about 1,804km. 

 

4. Retail networks: Kenya has over 2,762 retail stations. The stations are classified as Tier 1, 2, 3 and 4 depending on land area, services offered and storage capacity. 

 

Licensees 

Petroleum licensees are classified into the following categories: 

 

• Importers of Petroleum Products (Currently totalled at 94 licensees) 

 

• Storage depots (Currently totalled at 27 licensees) 

 

• LPG Storage and Filling Plants (Currently totalled at 65 licensees) 

 

• Pipeline transportation (1 licensed pipeline transporter) 

 

• Refineries (1 licensed refinery) 

 

• Wholesalers and Exporters (Currently totalled at 832 licensees) 

 

• Transporters (by road for LPG) (Currently totalled at 94 licensees) 

 

• Retailers (Currently totalled at 42 licensees) 

 

• Petroleum Tankers (Currently totalled at 798 licensees) 

 

• Petroleum Drivers (Currently totalled at 432 licensees) 

 

• Storage of Crude Oil (There is only one licensed facility) 

Some of the companies operate in all the above licensable activities. Observance of fair competition is regulated in liaison with the Competition Authority of Kenya. 

Kenya Ministry of Energy  Name: Peter Nduru  Address: Nyayo House, Kenyatta Ave, P.O. Box 30582 – 00100, Nairobi, Kenya  Tel:  +254 020 310 112  Fax: +254 020 240 910  Email: pnduru@energy.go.ke  Website: www.energy.go.ke	Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority  P:O: BOX 42681-00100  Eagle Africa Centre  Longonot Road, Upperhill   +254 709 336000/ 734 414333/020 2847000  info@epra.go.ke  Energy Regulatory Commission of Kenya (epra.go.ke)
State Department for Energy  Kawi Complex, Off Red Cross Rd, Nairobi.   +254 (0) 20 4841000   info@energy.go.ke	Kenya Pipeline Company  Physical Address: Kenpipe Plaza, Sekondi Road, Off Nanyuki Road, Industrial Area, Nairobi  Postal Address: P.O. Box 73442 – 00200,  Telephone: 020 2606500  Call Center Lines: 0709723006/4  Safaricom: 0722207667, 0722207668, 0722207678, 0722207679, Email: info@kpc.co.ke   Website: www.kpc.co.ke
Kenya Fuel Refineries Limited  Address: Refinery Road, Changamwe, Mombasa, P. O. Box  90401 – 80100, Kenya  Tel:  +254 041 3433 511 Cell: +254 724 257 102  Fax: +254 041 3432 603  Email: refinery@kprl.co.ke  Website: www.kprl.co.ke/

 

 

 The Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited is owned on a 50:50 equity holding between the government and India’s Essar Energy who acquired a 50% stake in September 2009 from Shell, BP & Chevron 

The Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited, Kenya Pipeline Company Limited, National Oil Corporation of Kenya (www.nockenya.co.ke) and Rift Valley Railways represent the government’s presence in the petroleum industry. 

• The domestic demand for various petroleum fuels on average stands at 2.5 million tonnes per year, all of it imported, either as crude oil for processing at the Kenya Petroleum Refineries Ltd or as refined petroleum products. The Kenya Petroleum Refinery at Mombasa has a current capacity of only 1.6 million tonnes per year. 

• The Mombasa refinery currently processes Murban and Arab Medium crude from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia 

• Processing heavier crude oil from Uganda would require additional spending on technology and equipment, but it would secure supplies closer to the refinery and reduce transportation cost. 

Kenya Pipeline Company 

The Kenya Pipeline Company Limited is a State Corporation established on 6th September 1973 under the Companies Act (CAP 486) of the Laws of Kenya and started commercial operations in 1978. The Company is 100% owned by the Government and complies with the provisions of the State Corporations Act (Cap 446) of 1986. The Company operations are also governed by relevant legislations and regulations such as the Finance Act, the Public Procurement Regulations, and Performance Contracting. 

To achieve its mandate KPC operates multi-product pipelines currently transporting the following grades of petroleum products: 
i) Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) 
ii) Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) 
iii) Illuminating Kerosene (IK) 
iv) Jet A-1 (Aviation Turbine Fuel). 

The pipeline system currently consists of a network of 1,792 km of pipelines running from Mombasa through Nairobi to the Western Kenya towns of Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu.  

KPC has petroleum products storage facilities at its depots located in Nairobi and the major towns of Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu with a total capacity of 417,980m3. The Company manages and operates the 326,233m3 imports storage facility at Kipevu (KOSF) and another 143,014m3 under a lease arrangement with the Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited (KPRL). 

To date, KPC has cost effectively, efficiently, and safely transported petroleum products through the pipeline, for consumption in Kenya and the neighbouring countries which include Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan and Northern Tanzania. The pipeline throughput has increased from 800m3 in 1978 to 8.1millionm3 in 2020/21. 

KPC also runs a NEMA (National Environmental Management Authority) designated environmental laboratory for effluent water, soil and drinking water analyses. 
KPC’s first Laboratory accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 was attained on 08th July 2016. 

 

 

 

 

Top 5 Oil Distributing Companies in Kenya
NO	Name of Company	Contacts
1	Vivo Energy Kenya  https://www.vivoenergy.com	Vivo Energy Kenya  Vienna Court, East Wing  State House Crescent  Off State House Avenue  P.O Box 43561,  00100 Nairobi  Tel: +254 703025000  Customer Service: +254 7030255
2	Total Kenya Limited  https://totalenergies.ke/	Email: customerservice@total.co.ke,   Phone number: +254-20-289 7333 or +254719 027333, Mail Address: Total Kenya Limited, P.O. Box 30736-00100.
3	Rubis Kenya Limited  https://rubiskenya.com/	Avenue 5 Building  Rose Avenue  ​Off Lenana Road  ​Kilimani  E-mail: customercare@rubiskenya.com  ​Tel: 0706033264/0706033260  P.O. Box 44202/30322 – 00100
4	National Oil Corporation of Kenya	KAWI house – South C, Popo Lane, Off Red Cross Road  P.O Box 58567 0200 Nairobi, Kenya.  Telephone: +254-20-695-2000  Safaricom Line: +254-709-591000  Cell phone: +254-734-333000, +254-722-203747
5	Libya Oil Kenya (OLA)  www.oilibya.co.ke	Address: OiLibya Plaza Muthaiga Road Nairobi, 0620 Kenya;  Website: www.oilibya.co.ke.

 

For more information on government and fuel provider contact details, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.7 Fuel Providers Contact List.

Fuel Pricing 

Fuel prices are controlled by Energy petroleum and Refinery authority (EPRA). The review of prices normally happens every mid-month. Various locations within the country will therefore have different fuel prices. 

Fuel Prices as of: August 2023 (local currency and US$)
Petrol (per litre)	1.393 USD
Diesel (per litre)	1.114 USD
Paraffin (per litre)	1.286 USD
Jet A1 (per litre)	0.859

 

Retail Petroleum Prices - Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (epra.go.ke) 

Fuel Prices in (Kenya Shillings) in various towns across the country as of August 2023 

 

Seasonal Variations  

 

Seasonal Variations
Are there national priorities in the availability of fuel? (Yes / No)	No
Is there a rationing system? (Yes / No)	No
Is fuel to lower income/vulnerable groups subsidized? (Yes / No)	No
Can the local industry expand fuel supply to meet humanitarian needs? (Yes / No)	Yes
Is it possible for a humanitarian organization to directly contract a reputable supplier/distributor to provide its fuel needs? (Yes / No)	Yes

Fuel Transportation 

Fuel distribution within Kenya is by truck and by pipeline from Mombasa to Nairobi and Eldoret 

The railways do offer a service but due to the poor condition of the rail network this is not used as much. 

Fuel distribution by road is well organised but fuel shortages do occur due to the fuel pipeline having insufficient capacity to meet demand. 

Kenya Pipeline corporation is currently building a new, 20-inch pipeline to replace the existing line. The new pipeline would be able to carry 287,000 barrels per day by 2023.  

Standards, Quality and Testing 

Even though authorities are implementing quality surveillance system, second treatment of fuel is advised.  

Industry Control Measures
Tanks with adequate protection against water mixing with the fuel.  (Yes / No)	Yes
Filters in the system, monitors where fuel is loaded into aircraft.  (Yes / No)	yes
Adequate epoxy coating of tanks on trucks  (Yes / No)	Yes
Presence of suitable firefighting equipment  (Yes / No)	Yes
Standards Authority
Is there a national or regional standards authority? (Yes / No)	Yes
If yes, are the standards adequate/properly enforced? (Yes / No)	Yes
Testing Laboratories
Are there national testing laboratories? (Yes / No)	yes
Fuel Quality Testing Laboratory
Name SHELL BP Kenya LTD
Address Shimanzi Oil Terminal Laboratory, P.O. Box 90250 – 80100, Mombasa, Kenya
Telephone +254 041 249 5051    Fax +254 041 249 5054
Contact Nicholas OCHIENG
Standards Used   ASTM Aviation Fuel Methods  IP Aviation Fuel Methods  Jointly Operated Systems (AFQRJOS), MIL, MOD, GOST and other protocols, standards, and methods
Fuel Quality Testing Laboratory
Name Caltex Kenya Ltd
Address 90431 – 80100, Mombasa, Kenya
Telephone +254 041 249 4751                   Fax +254 041 249 4204
Contact John MWANGI
Standards Used   ASTM Aviation Fuel Methods  IP Aviation Fuel Methods  Jointly Operated Systems (AFQRJOS), MIL, MOD, GOST and other protocols, standards, and methods

  

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.

The current road transport capacity of the country resides in private contractors, most of them based in Mombasa, however for WFP Transporters a majority have their administrative offices in Nairobi but are also very well positioned in Mombasa.  

The Aid and Relief cargo continues to be a reliable source of cargo for transport actors as the port of Mombasa continues to position itself as the premier gateway for cargo within the region particularly the Northern Corridor.  

Major investments have also been witnessed among the different players with the industry players being agile enough to shift to different cargo considerations to suit current need. A good example is upon the discovery of crude oil in Northern Kenya, it is a local company that was able to sufficiently haul the entire consignment.  

In short, the commercial transport sector is robust and depending on the right incentive can mobilise the required capacity to deliver as required. 

WFP Kenya does not have any dedicated fleet in Kenya but relies on their contracted commercial transporters who in turn when needed subcontract this capacity.  

Even though the road transport of the country is one of the best in the region, availability of vectors may be influenced in certain period of the year by bulky delivery of goods: it is the case for fertilizers delivery in February/March and July/August. 

For more information on transport company contact details, please see the following link: 4.8 Transporter Contact List. 

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.  

 

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not able to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider. 

Kenya’s communication sector led by The Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy (MOIC-DE) has responsibility for formulating, administering, managing, and developing the Information, Broadcasting and Communication policy.  

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) is mandated to license all communications systems and services in the country. In executing this and its other responsibilities, CA is guided by the provisions of the relevant statutes, including the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998 and the Kenya Communications Regulations 2001. Commercial telecommunications licensees are authorized to set up telecommunications systems and/or to provide telecommunications services to third parties in accordance with the license terms and conditions. CA issues commercial licenses on a first-come-first-served basis and the turn-around time is 135 days. The Authority has in place a Unified Licensing Framework (ULF), which is technology and service neutral. The ULF market is structured into three main licenses: 1. Network Facilities Provider. 2.Application Service Provider. 3.Content Service Provider. 

CA also issues licences for postal and courier services. The Postal Corporation of Kenya was established by an Act of Parliament (PCK Act 1998) and operates as a commercial public enterprise. The Corporation’s mandate includes provision of accessible, affordable, and reliable postal services to all parts of Kenya as public postal license whereby communication through the post office forms part of the basic human right as is enshrined in the 1948 United Nations Charter. Its mission is to deliver innovative superior communication, Distribution and Financial (Payment) solutions. The Post Office has a total of 623 outlets spread across the country. 

Mobile Telecommunication Industry in Kenya 

The mobile telecommunications industry in Kenya has witnessed immense growth. There are profiles of five companies, including Safaricom, which holds the highest market share for mobile data subscriptions, and other major players such as Airtel Networks, Telkom Kenya, Jamii Telecom, and Finserve (Equitel). 

To register sim cards / mobile numbers in Kenya, one is required to provide an original and a copy of the national identity card, passport, or alien card. A subscriber is only allowed to own not more than 10 sim cards. There are numerous data plans easily available as the providers compete for the market's dominance.  

For more information on telecoms contacts, please see the following link: https://kampusville.com/telecommunication-companies-kenya/ 

 

 

Telephone Services
Is there an existing landline telephone network?	Yes
Does it allow international calls?	Yes
Number and Length of Downtime Periods (on average)	The network is well monitored and maintained to alleviate minimal down time (0.01%).  99.99% up time
Mobile Phone Providers	Safaricom, Airtel Networks, Telkom Kenya, Finserve (Equitel) and Jamii Telecommunications
Approximate Percentage of National Coverage	Over 90 percent

Telecommunications Regulations 

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) is responsible for the development and implementation of policies and strategies with respect to telecommunications services in Kenya. The Authority licences, telecommunications operators, service providers monitor their performance on a continuous basis to ensure that they discharge the obligations as stipulated in their licences and are adhering to the provisions of the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Act, 2013. 

An application is deemed received when the Authority accepts the application fees and issues a receipt, and the applicant has met all the requirements. Applications sent by post are logged in as letters until or unless the applicable license application fee is received. Once an application is accepted, it undergoes processing, which may include publication in the Kenya Gazette in accordance with the law. At the conclusion of the licensing process, an applicant is advised of the outcome in writing. 

The licensing process commences with the submission of a duly completed application form available for download at Licensing Overview | Communications Authority of Kenya. Within the form, details of the minimum requirements for acceptance of an application for each type of license and applicable fees are available. All applicants for commercial licenses should meet the following minimum conditions: 

1. The entity should be registered in Kenya as a company, sole-proprietor, or partnership. 

2. Have a duly registered office and permanent premises in Kenya. 

3. Provide details of shareholders and directors. 

4. Issue at least 30% of its shares to Kenyans on or before the end of three years after receiving a license. 

5. Provide evidence of compliance with tax requirements. 

 

Regulations on Usage and Import
	Regulations in Place?	Regulating Authority
Satellite	Yes	CA due to Frequency allocation
HF Radio	Yes	CA to Frequency monitoring and allocation
UHF/VHF/HF Radio: Handheld, Base and Mobile	Yes	CA to Frequency monitoring and allocation
UHF/VHF Repeaters	Yes	CA to Frequency monitoring and allocation
GPS	No
VSAT	Yes	CA due to Frequency allocation
Individual Network Operator Licenses Required
Yes, the Licence is required for the individual Network operators
Frequency Licenses Required
Yes, Frequency Licence need to be obtained from CA

 

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems 

Apart from UNHCR, whose equipment is situated within the UNHCR Compound, the remaining systems are located at the UNON Compound in Gigiri. VHF and HF frequencies are commonly shared, and the movement of UN vehicles and personnel is tracked and monitored within the UN Common Radio Room. This administration is carried out by UNON as mandated by UNDSS Kenya. 

Clarify with Robert (UNDSS) 

Existing UN Telecommunication Systems
	UNDP	WFP	UNHCR	UNICEF	UNON
VHF Frequencies	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HF Frequencies	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Locations of Repeaters	No	Yes   UNON	Yes   UNHCR	Yes   UNON	Yes   UNON
VSAT	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

 According to, CA Third Quarter Sector Statistics Report for the Financial Year 2022/2023, the total mobile data/Internet subscriptions stood at 47.96 million out of which 67.1 percent were on mobile broadband. This being 42.0 percent of the total population. In contemporary Kenya, there are many Internet service providers. Some have national coverage, while others are limited to specific locations. The prices they charge for connectivity depend on the speed, location, and number of users.  

Internet Service Providers
Are there ISPs available?	Yes
If yes, are they privately or government owned?	Privately and government owned
Dial-up only?	No
Approximate Rates (local currency and USD - $)	Broadband	Kes.10,000 ($70)
Minimum Leasable ‘Dedicated’ Bandwidth	30mbps

 

List of Internet service providers in Kenya 

	Fixed Data Subscriptions by Operator
	Service Provider/Indicator	Number of data subscriptions	Percentage Market share (%)
1	Safaricom PLC	399,333	35.9
2	Jamii Telecommunications Ltd	257,951	23.2
3	Wananchi Group (Kenya) Limited*	252,066	22.7
4	Poa Internet Kenya Ltd	136,022	12.2
5	Liquid Telecommunications Kenya	17,594	1.6
6	Mawingu Networks Ltd	16,255	1.5
7	Dimension Data Solutions East Africa Limited	14,891	1.3
8	Vilcom Network Limited	4,760	0.4
9	Telkom Kenya Ltd	4,545	0.4
10	Other Fixed Service providers	8,871	0.8

 

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) 

Accessing the internet in Kenya is easy. Broadband is widely used, particularly in the main cities, at 13.7 megabits per second. Kenya's average data connection speed ranks as the 14th fastest in the world, which is also double the speed of the global average data connection speed. In 2022, 85.2 percent of Kenya's population was connected to the internet, according to World Stats (IWS). 

Concerns in Mobile Financial Services (MFS) regulation in Kenya include interoperability in view of a dominant Mobile Network Operator (MNO), and transparency in terms of costing of the services. MNOs also play a double role of being the providers of the access channel especially USSD and as competitors of other providers of mobile payments. To mitigate against the highlighted concerns, the regulators have put in place short term and long-term measures. The short-term measures include the implementation of cooperation framework amongst the regulators and moral suasion. In the long-term, it is envisaged that a specialized agency to regulate the sector, the Financial Services Authority, will be formed through the enactment of the relevant legislation.  

Company	Number of Agent Outlets by Area	Network Strength by Area	Contracted for Humanitarian or Government Cash Transfer  Programmes?	Services Offered  (i.e., Merchant Payment,  Bulk Disbursement,  Receive & Make Payment)
Safaricom	160,000	2G, 3G, 4G and 5G	Yes	Yes
Airtel Kenya	24,000	3G, 4G and 5G	Yes	Yes
Telkom Kenya	100,000	2G, 3G, 4G and 5G	Yes	Yes

To access network Strength by Area for each provider, kindly refer to the link below: 

https://www.nperf.com/en/map/KE/ 

For more information on Humanitarian Cash Transfer Programmes, refer to the links below: 

https://cdn.odi.org/media/documents/8790.pdf 

https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PBAAC032.pdf 

Digital Infrastructure 

According to the Kenya Digital Masterplan 2022-2032, Kenya currently boasts of being one of the most connected countries on the Eastern Coast of Africa. There are six submarine cables, namely TEAMS (5.2TB), EASSY (27.4TB), SEACOM (12TB), DARE (36TB), PEACE (192TB), and LION2 (12.33TB), that offer connectivity to the rest of the world. The Government's network is connected to the international broadband highway through TEAMS, in which the government holds a 20% share (1.04TB). The government has utilized its capacity in TEAMS by activating an internet capacity of 10 Gbps to serve its needs. 

Regarding National Connectivity, over the last ten (10) years, the government has constructed approximately 9000km of terrestrial fibre, extending to the sub-county level, connecting key government institutions and offices to provide government services through the National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure Project (NOFBI). Telecommunications companies such as Safaricom, Airtel, Jamii Telcom, and Telkom Liquid have also built fibre infrastructure. 

Kenya Food Suppliers, Accommodation and Other Markets

For information on contact details, please see the following link:

4.2.9 Kenya Additional Service Provision Contact List

Main Food Suppliers

WFP Kenya has a unit providing local food purchase that may provide quick food response in case of emergency.

Such commodities should be purchased carefully and one should not consider it for really bulky quantities, as it may negatively influence the overall country food availability 

Accommodation

As said elsewhere Kenya should not represent a big challenge under the point of view of accommodation availability. Commercial compounds are available all over the country as well as hostelling solutions. 

Additional Operational Support

Many kind of operational support are available in the country.