- Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of organizing a huge oil scandal while prices continue to rise
- The opposition leader named important officials involved in the scandal, detailing the origin of the fraudulent activities
- The union claimed that the president would benefit from the new oil prices and made various urgent demands
Former vice president Rigathi Gachagua He has accused the government of Kenya Kwanza of planning what he called the biggest oil scam ever to happen in the country.
Source: Facebook
The leader made these remarks after the government announced an increase in fuel prices.
Speaking at the United Alternative Government press conference on Wednesday, April 15, Gachagua expressed anger over the scandal, criticizing Ruto by announcing that “the oil cartels have been abolished.”
Who did Gachagua mention in the oil scandal?
He noted that there are three International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the government-to-government (G-to-G) program: Saudi Aramco (diesel/petrol), Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) (diesel/jet fuel), and Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) (petrol).
In the statement, Gachagua named Ruto as the team leader in the oil scandal, Public Services Principal Secretary Felix Koskei, Energy and Petroleum Minister Opiyo Wandayi, and ODM leader Oburu Oginga, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and the beneficial owner of BE ENERGY, a local oil marketing company (OMC) which is an agent of International Oil Companies (IOCs) awarded tenders under the G-to-G system.
“The real culprits in this scandal are Mr. William Ruto, government expert Opiyo Wandayi, and Oburu Odinga of BE Energy and the Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee,” he said.
Gachagua claimed that the disruption of global oil supply linked to the Middle East crisis led to the failure to implement agreements under the G-to-G system and led to emergency procurement measures as stipulated in the 2023 Petroleum Import Regulations.
“With the crisis in the Middle East caused by the conflict between the United States and Iran, Mr. William Ruto saw a great business opportunity to rob Kenyans, as he has been doing. Since the IOCs in the G-to-G agreement could not transport oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and had submitted that they could not fulfill their contractual obligations, which led to the failure of delivery, the three officials used the relevant provisions of the Petroleum Import Regulations of 2023 and implemented the government’s order to investigate and implement strategies to change the sources of petroleum imports outside the same region, reduce dependence and strengthen the nation’s energy security,” he said.
How will Ruto benefit from rising fuel prices?
The union claimed that Gulf Energy, which they associated with the president, submitted its bid three days after the procurement process was completed and was rejected.
However, it was later inserted into the supply chain through Ruto’s political intervention.
“That’s when the heads started falling. He knew he had lost billions of shillings. Through a terrible arrangement, Ruto planned a bad propaganda that the oil produced was of poor quality despite following all quality control procedures carried out by powerful government officials,” he claimed.
He claimed that following the increase in fuel prices, Ruto will get a profit of KSh 5 per liter or KSh 2.5 billion from the 500 million liters that will be provided for use in the area.
Source: Facebook
The coalition has asked Ruto to convene a special parliamentary session within seven days to cancel the G-to-G program, suspend some fuel taxes, and put in place accountability measures.
Furthermore, they have asked Wandayi and Trade Minister Lee Kinyanjui to resign for their alleged involvement.
At the same time, Gachagua said that three officials from the ministry were unfairly dismissed without any charges being filed.
How can Ruto reduce fuel prices?
In related news, Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro explained how the government can reduce the price of petrol from KSh 28.69 per liter and diesel from KSh 40.30 per litre.
The MP urged the government to abolish the KSh 7 fuel tax imposed in 2024 and also reduce VAT by a further 5%, which is about KSh 8.
He also suggested that the government use KSh 5 billion from the Oil Price Stability Fund, which will save KSh 12 more.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
