Constitutional lawyer and governance advocate Willis Otieno has demanded immediate accountability over what he described as widespread damage caused to vehicles by substandard fuel.

Taking to his official X account on Friday, May 1, 2026, the Safina Deputy Party Leader questioned who would bear responsibility for the mounting losses suffered by motorists across the country, as reports of engine failures linked to poor fuel quality continue to surface.

“Who will compensate motorists whose cars have been damaged by the poor fuel quality? We demand to know: Who bears the cost of this negligence?” he posed.

Otieno did not mince his words, calling out what he termed ‘systemic failure’ and ‘regulatory negligence’ that have left ordinary Kenyans exposed to financial losses and safety risks.

“Who is accountable for the engine failures, the crippling repair bills, the wasted time, and the sheer frustration foisted upon citizens by substandard products?” he added, demanding swift identification of those responsible and immediate compensation for affected motorists.

Motorists Count Heavy Losses

Across major towns including Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu, motorists have reported sudden engine malfunctions shortly after refuelling, with mechanics increasingly pointing to contaminated or adulterated fuel as the likely cause.

Several car owners have taken to social media to share their experiences, with some reporting repair bills running into hundreds of thousands of shillings.

The controversy has now placed regulators under intense scrutiny, particularly the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, which is mandated to ensure fuel quality standards are upheld.

Withdrawal of controversial fuel

This comes just weeks after One Petroleum Limited announced the suspension of the distribution of a fuel consignment that recently arrived in the country after being shipped out of the government’s G-to-G agreement, sparking a controversy that led to the arrest and subsequent resignation of top energy officials.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the company said the move followed consultations with the government amid growing scrutiny over the shipment.

The company revealed that it was among four firms that responded to an emergency request issued by the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in March, suggesting the consignment was part of urgent efforts to stabilise fuel supply.

It also confirmed that the petroleum cargo delivered on March 27, 2026, via the vessel MT Paloma will not enter the Kenyan market.

“In March, One Petroleum Limited was one of four bidders that successfully responded to an emergency request issued by the Kenya Ministry of Energy and Petroleum,” the statement read.

“Following consultations with the Government, One Petroleum Limited confirms that it has forthwith taken steps to ensure that the petroleum cargo that was brought in on 27th March, 2026 via MT Paloma does not enter the Kenyan market.”

The government’s order

The decision followed a strong directive from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum ordering the withdrawal of the 60,000-metric-tonne consignment of Super Petrol and the cancellation of all invoices issued to oil marketing companies.

CS Wandayi said the shipment had been imported “in contravention of the procedures set out under the G-to-G contractual framework with international suppliers,” warning that it posed risks to the stability of Kenya’s fuel supply system.

As part of immediate corrective measures, the ministry ordered One Petroleum to withdraw all invoices and issue credit notes, while directing oil marketers not to pay for or uplift any product from the consignment.

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) was also instructed to exclude the shipment from monthly fuel pricing calculations.