Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has defended the government's decision to stop Uganda from utilizing the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) infrastructure to transport refined petroleum products from Mombasa to Uganda.
In an interview on Thursday, the spokesperson said that the decision was for the benefit of ordinary Kenyans as the deal had no benefit.
According to the former senator, the government was expending significant resources to maintain the pipeline system and deliver fuel to the bordering countries while reaping little advantage from the enterprise.
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“ The pipeline is not utilized as it should, the deal is expensive, but we are not getting profit as we should," Mwaura said.
He said that because a case in which Uganda has sued Kenya is now pending in court, the government would wait for the verdict before taking action.
He emphasized that while Kenya would continue to work with Uganda on the issue, the President William Ruto-led administration would emphasize projects that benefit the public economy, including adopting the new G2G model.
Mwaura also disputed accusations of a schism between Kenya Kwanza and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, stating that the alleged friction during the Congo elections last month was merely a rumor.
He highlighted President Ruto's recent gesture to congratulate President Felix Tshisekedi on his election victory, saying Kenya was in accord with Congo on both commercial and governance levels.
Uganda filed a complaint with the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) against Kenya for refusing to enable it to use KPC infrastructure to transport refined petroleum products from Mombasa port to Uganda.
Uganda accuses Kenya of refusing its corporation, the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), the right to operate as an Oil Marketing Company (OMC) in Kenya and also wants EPRA's licencing rules placed on UNOC deemed irrelevant, illogical, and unconstitutional.
