Energy Ministry Deputy Director Joseph Wafula has resigned amid an intensifying probe into what authorities describe as an artificial fuel shortage scheme. Wafula, who held a senior position in the petroleum division, stepped down as investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) zeroed in on irregularities in fuel importation, procurement, and stock management.
The scandal, which has already led to the resignation and arrest of several top officials from the Energy Ministry, the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), and the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), centers on allegations that officials manipulated fuel stock data to justify emergency shipments at inflated prices. Some of these shipments are also suspected to have been substandard, raising further questions about regulatory oversight and governance within the sector.
Amid the unfolding crisis, online narratives have attempted to link National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to the fuel scandal. However, there is no verified evidence from investigators directly implicating him. Authorities caution that these claims remain speculative and unsubstantiated.
The Wafula resignation marks another key development in a scandal that exposes systemic weaknesses in Kenya’s energy sector, including lapses in oversight and the misuse of emergency procurement procedures. The government has pledged to pursue the matter vigorously, warning that anyone found responsible for economic sabotage will face legal consequences.
