Democracy for the Citizens Party deputy party leader Cleophas Malala has faulted Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi over what he has termed inconsistency, lack of transparency, and failure to give Kenyans truthful updates on issues affecting the energy sector.

Speaking in an interview with a local TV station on Thursday, May 7, 2026, the DCP official claimed the leadership at the Energy Ministry was insincere and had failed to communicate clearly with the public on critical matters.

“We have insincere leadership in that ministry, and CS Opiyo Wandayi in the recent past has been very inconsistent in briefing the country on what has been going on,” Malala said.

The former Kakamega senator further questioned why Kenyans were being subjected to suffering while leaders remained silent or issued conflicting statements on matters touching on national utilities and public safety.

Malala demanded that the CS come out openly and address the country with honesty, arguing that the ongoing situation was no longer just about business interests but the safety and well-being of millions of citizens.

“Come out clear and tell Kenyans the truth. Why are you making Kenyans suffer? This is not just business; we are putting the lives of Kenyans at risk,” he added.

Malala further warned that poor leadership and inconsistent communication from the ministry could erode public confidence in government institutions. He maintained that Kenyans deserve accountability and timely information from leaders entrusted with managing critical national sectors.

Wandayi’s assurance

His remarks come at a time when Wandayi has addressed concerns over reported fuel shortages in parts of the country, assuring that the situation is temporary and already under government intervention.

Speaking in the Senate plenary session on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the CS explained that the disruptions affecting select fuel stations were not widespread, noting that most parts of the country continued to receive normal petroleum supplies, attributing the shortages to a brief operational disruption within the fuel distribution chain, which affected how some companies accessed products.

“The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum wishes to inform the public that the temporary fuel supply challenges experienced in isolated filling stations in some parts of the country arose from a technical and administrative hitch,” Wandayi clarified.

“This curtailed the optimal uptake of petroleum products by a few oil marketing companies operating in the downstream of the supply chain.”

The CS told senators that the situation had since been corrected, with coordination ongoing between the ministry and industry players to restore normal distribution. He noted that supply recovery efforts were already in progress across affected regions.

“Fuel restocking in various filling stations is underway, and normal supply across the country will be attained by the end of the day today,” Wandayi assured.