Gachagua points finger at Ruto in fuel scandal

Former DP Rigathi Gachagua addressing the congregation at AIPCA Gakoe church in Kiambu County on April 5, 2026. [Courtesy, X/Rigathi Gachagua] Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has now claimed that the ongoing saga surrounding fuel cartels is akin to a case of a deal gone wrong, which could lead to a hike in prices in the coming weeks. Gachagua has invoked the name of President William Ruto, alleging that the genesis of the matter is more of a business rivalry between him and his officials in government. He said that upon the arrest of the Petroleum Principal Secretary, Mohamed Liban, Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Managing Director Joe Sang, and Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) Director-General Daniel Kiptoo on Friday, he had since allegedly learned of the "behind the scenes" deal. Gachagua claimed that the senior officials worked outside the government-to-government (G2G) framework and opted for direct importation, which they had begun reaping from. "On Good Friday, people were arrested over fuel issues and I defended them, but now I have the full information. It is about a business rivalry between Ruto and his people," Gachagua claimed. He made the remarks yesterday after attending the Easter Sunday service at AIPCA Gakoe, Gatundu North in Kiambu County. According to the former DP, some proxies working for the President informed him what was happening and that some of his senior officers were evading the G2G arrangement, subsequently working behind his back. "Those people were forced to resign. You will see that in the next three or so weeks, pump prices will increase by about Sh40, which will then trickle down to ordinary Kenyans," Gachagua claimed. Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said on Saturday that the government has initiated investigations into irregularities in the petroleum products value chain. He said the government entered into a G2G fuel supply agreement in 2023, as an intervention following recurrent petroleum shortages experienced in 2022, characterised by long queues at filling stations and unsafe fuel handling practices. "Notwithstanding this stable supply position, Ruto notes with grave concern that primary duty bearers responsible for administering the petroleum supply chain may have manipulated data on in-country fuel stocks. This appears to have been done to exploit rising global prices and public anxiety, thereby creating a false impression of an impending supply shortfall," Koskei said in a statement. Koskei said this misrepresentation is reported to have led to the irregular procurement of an emergency fuel cargo, with the shipment in question being obtained in breach of the G2G framework, at a price significantly above the contracted rates. The President has since ordered a crackdown on fuel cartels and vowed decisive action against people or networks found to have engaged in manipulating the supply for personal gain. "These cartels in the energy sector will not be allowed to operate freely. They will not escape accountability. For cartels in oil, they cannot escape this because it is not possible that people have seen we have a problem in the Middle East and now want to create another problem in the country," Ruto said.

Gachagua points finger at Ruto in fuel scandal

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