Conspiracy: Did builders introduce oil-siphoning mechanism in Kenya pipeline?

John Ngumi, Kenya Pipeline Company Board Chairman. [File, Standard]

A company contracted by the Government to build an oil pipeline from Mombasa to Nairobi has come under sharp scrutiny following fuel siphoning revelations. The Lebanese firm, Zakhem International Construction, is now being investigated following the discovery of a syndicate in which siphoning of oil has been going on around Mlolongo area.

So far investigations indicate that the junction through which the fuel was being tapped could only have been created before the 20-inch pipe was buried in the soil. Should the ongoing probe confirm that, then the thieves would have stolen millions of litres since August last year, when the Sh48 billion pipeline was commissioned. Staff collusion Investigators told The Standard they believed if the theory held, there would have to be collusion between the Kenya Pipeline and Company’s (KPA) engineers to have the illegal connection installed.