Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has cautioned the government over what he termed rising risks of importing low-quality petroleum products into Kenya, linking the policy shift to global supply disruptions tied to tensions in the Middle East, including the Iran conflict and instability around the Strait of Hormuz.

In an interview on a local TV station on Thursday, May 7, 2026, the senator questioned the justification being offered by authorities for relaxing fuel quality standards, arguing that supply chain challenges should affect pricing rather than product quality.

“I think the challenges that we have with the supply of petroleum products as a result of the Iranian war – what has that got to do with the quality of petroleum, is becoming very strange,” he said.

“It is simply supposed to be a matter of higher prices because it is harder to get these products from where we get them because there is war.”

The legislator said he found it inconsistent that quality concerns had suddenly emerged, suggesting that the issue may be masking deeper procurement problems.

“Talking of quality, then you start asking yourself, could this be the same consignment that had been brought in that resulted in the firing? Because it was firing, nobody should tell us these things,” he added.

His comments come amid growing political tension over the government’s decision to temporarily waive fuel standards, a move said to be meant to stabilise supply amid disruptions in global shipping routes.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Kinyanjui has defended the waiver, saying it follows requests from stakeholders and guidance from the National Standards Council.

In a statement, the ministry said it had approved a temporary relaxation of sulphur limits to ensure uninterrupted supply, reverting to earlier standards for up to six months or until global conditions stabilise.

The decision has sparked criticism from opposition figures and some industry stakeholders who argue it could expose consumers to environmental and mechanical risks.

Senator Nyutu, however, went further, questioning the transparency of procurement processes and suggesting possible irregularities in sourcing.

“There must be something that we are not being told. There has been a lot of opaqueness in the way this matter has been dealt with,” he said.

He also raised concerns over what he described as single sourcing practices in fuel imports, arguing that Kenya should diversify suppliers to avoid compromising standards.

“Why would we single-source? Why would we not get the right quality fuel and bring it into the country?” he asked.

“If we are putting these products into the country and they are low quality, what is the effect on pricing? Low quality should lead to lower prices.”

Gachagua’s claims

The senator’s remarks come in the wake of heightened political scrutiny over fuel imports, following accusations by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that the government had sanctioned the importation of substandard fuel with potentially dangerous sulphur levels.

Gachagua warned that excessive sulphur content could cause severe engine damage and trigger what he called a national crisis.

“Experts have told me that excessive sulphur in the fuel will translate into sulphuric acid and this will cause corrosion to the engine cylinders, pistons, and rings,” he said.

However, the government has dismissed claims of deliberate wrongdoing, insisting the policy change is temporary and aimed at cushioning the country from global supply shocks linked to geopolitical instability.

Even so, Nyutu expressed scepticism over the official explanation, pointing to what he described as conflicting statements from senior officials, warning that the greatest risk lies not in pricing fluctuations but in public safety and long-term damage to consumers.

“We must ask ourselves a lot of questions. You remember the CS said he was not aware of the consignment, and later reports showed meetings had been held earlier in March. So we may not be able to trust what we are being told,” he said.

“The greatest concern for me is the risk that we are exposing Kenyans to by importing this fuel. The reason given is not convincing. It should be about higher prices, not lower quality.”