On Monday, April 6, national newspapers reported in detail about the ongoing investigation into the oil scandal.
Source: UGC
Other newspapers also reported on the growing differences between the ODM party and UDA about the 2027 election coalition agreement.
1. The Standard
Former vice president Rigathi Gachagua he suggested that the oil scandal worth billions of shillings was the result of a failed plan.
Speaking at a church in Kiambu county on Sunday, April 5, Gachagua claimed that several former officials, including former Secretary General Mohamed Liban, former Director General of Kenya Pipeline Company Joe Sang, and former Director General of Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, were being targeted after trying to ignore government procedures.
Gachagua claimed that the search is not related to responsibility, but is related to commercial competition within the oil sector.
He also claimed that 500 million shillings were found from the houses of those linked to the saga and handed over to the President William Ruto.
2. Nation Today
The Kiswahili newspaper reported on the appointment of Joseph Oketch as acting director general of the Energy and Petroleum Regulations Authority (EPRA).
Oketch’s appointment follows the resignation of Daniel Kiptoo as director general of EPRA the day before, amid a scandal involving the importation of substandard fuel worth more than 4.8 billion shillings.
The chairman of the EPRA board, Adan Ali, said on Sunday, April 5, that Oketch was chosen due to the authority’s important role in regulating the energy sector in Kenya, including setting prices, issuing licenses, controlling quality, and protecting consumers.
“The board is confident that Joseph Okech will lead this authority properly in that position. We assure the country and stakeholders that this authority is strong and will continue to control the energy sector efficiently and sustainably,” said Ali.
3. Daily Nation
The newspaper reported how two Cabinet ministers were implicated in the ongoing investigation into the 4.8 billion shillings oil scandal that led to the arrest and resignation of three energy sector executives.
The government is investigating whether the scheme used the Middle East crisis to inject crude oil into the Kenyan market.
However, the investigation took a new turn after leaked letters linked to the controversial oil importation approval emerged, focusing on two ministers, Lee Kinyanjui (Trade) and his Energy counterpart, Mr Opiyo Wandayi.
The leaked letters, linked to the controversial approval of oil imports, show how the multi-billion shilling scheme was facilitated.
A senior officer of the Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) close to the investigation revealed that Wandayi and Kinyanjui will be required to explain what they know about the scandal.
“Ministers will be required to shed light on what they know about this matter; no longer about low-level officials. The direction must shift to decisions made at higher policy levels, and documentation will be important,” said the official.
The certified letters may directly implicate ministers and show coordination between the Commerce and Energy ministries in the scandal.
“Now that the documents have been confirmed to be authentic, they will change the direction of the investigation. Ministers will have to explain what they know about the plan that went wrong,” said an energy sector analyst.
In another new twist, the March 28 apology letter from a business colleague indicates that Wandayi’s office was the primary target of the letter, not just given a copy.
Its secretary-general, Mohammed Liban, signed a request to KEBS for an exemption on dangerous levels of chemicals—benzene, manganese and sulphur—and put Wandayi on the docket.
According to the leaked letters, Wandayi knew that the cargo did not meet the standards as the second condition of the letter of apology clearly states that the ship MT Paloma did not meet the standards and his ministry was informed.
However, Kinyanjui distanced himself from the scandal, saying that the letter he had written was only to provide the conditions that should be followed when the importation of oil continues.
“I don’t know anything other than the approval of the exemption. My letter also gave conditions about what the Ministry of Energy, Department of Oil had to do before the import was done. Secretary General Mohamed Liban and Director General of Kenya Pipeline Company Joe Sang wrote to me asking for approval of the exemption and I only did what the law required me to do, nothing more,” said Kinyanjui.
4. The Star
The publication reported on the tension between UDA and ODM leaders regarding the alliance agreement ahead of the 2027 elections.
UDA secretary general, Hassan Omari, rejected the possibility of zoning as part of any political agreement between ODM and President William Ruto’s party.
He announced that the UDA will present candidates in all election positions, including the governorship of Mombasa currently held by ODM deputy leader Abdulswamad Nassir.
“My intention is to ensure that the governor we have becomes the biggest joke ever, whether there is cooperation or a broad political arrangement or not, we must bring him back home to Ganjoni,” said Omari.
However, ODM leaders led by the Governor Gladys Wanga and Member of Parliament Sam Atandi criticized Omari about his position on zoning.
“We are ready to die for zoning, there is no negotiation when it comes to zoning. We will not allow UDA to plant candidates in Luo Nyanza and other ODM strongholds!” ~Sam Atandi criticized Hassan Omari.
Read ENGLISH VERSION
Do you have an exciting story that you would like us to publish? Please contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
