Drones Hit Two Fuel Tankers Bound for Kenya as EPRA Flags 60-Day Cargo Transfer

2 tankers bring petroleum items predestined for Kenya were struck by drones, immobilising their engines, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority has actually divulged. The authority’s director general, Edward Kinyua, verified the strikes throughout a look before the National Assembly Special Funds Accounts Committee, which is chaired by Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Mohammed.

Kinyua informed the committee that moving the freight from the 2 vessels to other ships is anticipated to take approximately 60 days. He stated the petroleum items on board stayed safe, a point that separates the condition of the consignment from the state of the vessels’ propulsion.

He connected the attacks to installing stress in between Iran and Saudi Arabia, stating vessels linked to Saudi Arabia were being targeted. Kenya’s fuel imports are directed through a government-to-government supply plan with Saudi Arabia, which Kinyua provided as the secure meant to keep materials offered.

The disclosures came as MPs pushed EPRA over the most recent pump rate boosts, especially offered earlier guarantees from the President that fuel costs would not increase. The present EPRA evaluation worked on October 15 and goes to November 14, 2026. Under it, extremely fuel increased by Sh12.33 a litre, diesel by Sh9.90 and kerosene by Sh28.49. In Nairobi, kerosene now retails at Sh219.87 a litre versus Sh227.76 for diesel.

Kinyua associated part of the pressure to the Middle East dispute, which he stated interfered with Gulf deliveries and pressed importers towards options such as Singapore, where fuel costs more. He alerted that rates might climb up even more throughout the winter depending upon local advancements, while preserving that Kenya’s rates stay competitive versus those of neighbouring nations.

On kerosene, Kinyua stated the fuel would have been at least Sh30 a litre less expensive than diesel had the federal government kept the aid. Withdrawing it narrowed the kerosene-diesel space to Sh7.89 a litre. That space had actually reached a record Sh90.14 a litre in the month ending June 14, 2026, when kerosene got an aid of approximately Sh91.29 a litre. He likewise kept in mind that an anti-adulteration levy of Sh18 a litre of kerosene was presented before 2018 in action to prevalent fuel adulteration.

Kinyua stated EPRA is checking out alternative energy sources, though he acknowledged that moving far from petroleum is hard offered how commonly it is utilized.

The committee likewise took a look at Auditor General’s reports on EPRA’s Staff Mortgage and Car Loan Scheme covering the 2021/2022 to 2024/2025 fiscal years. The audit raised issues over interest charges and budget plan controls. It likewise flagged loan administration expenses and the interest made on deposits, along with building and construction loans and run the risk of management.

EPRA described that auto loan interest dropped from 4 percent to 3 percent in August 2022 after modifications to its contract with Kenya Commercial Bank. The authority stated its Staff Mortgage and Car Loan Policy was authorized by the board in December 2023. For 2023/2024, when no authorized budget plan existed for interest earnings and administration expenses, the plan operated on a board-approved budget plan within the combined spending plan. Building and construction loans are launched in phases, with examinations and development reports needed before more funds are released. The committee will weigh the audit findings and EPRA’s reactions in a report covering the 4 fiscal years covered.