Makali Mulu cautions MPs over Kenya Pipeline privatisation
By Faith Lagat, August 14, 2025The proposed privatisation of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) has sparked a heated debate in Parliament, with Kitui Central Member of Parliament (MP) Makali Mulu urging lawmakers to proceed cautiously to protect national interests.
Speaking during a parliamentary session on August 14, 2025, Mulu called for the Public Debt and Privatisation Committee and the Energy Committee to provide clear guidance on the matter.
“We would like to hear from the Public Debt and Privatisation Committee, which has been discussing the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) matter, on their position regarding privatisation. This House will need to take time and debate the KPC issue in a very sober manner to ensure we do not place the country in the hands of the private sector,” he said.
Mulu also warned of possible external influence on parliamentary committees, noting recent remarks by President William Ruto that some committees may have been compromised.
“I hope the concerned committee will give us the right direction, and I also hope these committees will not be influenced,” he added.
The government plans to sell a 65 per cent stake in KPC through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), targeting Ksh100 billion to ease fiscal pressures. While the Treasury views the sale as a means to raise revenue, MPs have voiced concerns over transparency, valuation, and the risks of surrendering control of a key energy infrastructure asset.
Concerns
Wajir East MP Aden Daudi questioned the government’s decision to proceed without publicly disclosing KPC’s valuation. “You cannot sell something that you do not even know its value,” he said, urging the Treasury to make the figures public.
The joint committees, co-chaired by Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria and Balambala MP Abdi Shurie, also raised concerns over the opaque process, including the lack of clarity surrounding KPC’s takeover of the Kenya Petroleum Refinery Limited (KPRL).
Questions over job security
Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo warned that KPC employees fear restructuring and job losses but are reluctant to voice their concerns due to possible victimisation. Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi moved to reassure staff, saying, “We do not foresee any job losses or any restructuring to the current job structures at KPC.”
Despite these assurances, scepticism remains among lawmakers, with some urging the government to plug financial leakages instead of selling profitable entities. KPC was valued at Ksh120.7 billion in 2024, with no liabilities.
Public participation on the proposal is ongoing, with submissions due by August 13. Mulu’s appeal for a sober and independent review continues to resonate as MPs weigh the implications for Kenya’s energy security and economic stability.