Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir denies claims that the kshs 17B oil consignment belongs to businesswoman Ann Njeri Njoroge.

According to CS Chirchir, the businesswoman's company, Anns Import and Export Enterprises Limited, allegedly ordered the cargo, needs to be identified as a licensed petroleum import company.

PHOTO | COURTESYAnn Njeri forged 

"I can confirm that Anns Import and Export Enterprises Limited has not signed the transport and storage agreement as required under Regulation 6 of the Petroleum (Importation) Regulations, 2023 and cannot therefore qualify to be an oil marketing company," he said.

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According to the CS, the businesswoman's company has not signed the open tendering system agreement and, hence, cannot claim to have imported fuel cargo into Kenya.

Chirchir also disclosed that Njeri's company applied to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on October 9, 2023, via the internet portal for a permit to import, export, and wholesale petroleum products.

PHOTO | COURTESY Energy CS Chirchir 

He revealed that the application was rejected 20 days after assessment because the company did not meet the requirements.

Proof of annual sales volume in Kenya of 6.6 million liters of fuel products, operation of 5 licensed retail stations, operation of a licensed depot in Kenya, and an annual turnover of USD 10 million for the previous three years for applicants with operations outside Kenya are all required.

According to the CS, the ministry wrote to Aramco Trading Fujairah FZE, which supplied the consignment via its nominated oil marketing business, Galana Energies Limited, for the supply of 85,000 metric tonnes of diesel to be delivered to the Port of Mombasa between October 17-19, 2023.

Galana Energies then advised the ministry on the nomination of MT Haigui for cargo delivery on September 2, following the conclusion of a tripartite agreement for cargo financing with KCB Bank and Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), under which the lender provided a letter of credit for the cargo.