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

Two tankers carrying petroleum products destined for Kenya were struck by drones, immobilising their engines, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority has disclosed. The authority’s director general, Edward Kinyua, confirmed the strikes during an appearance before the National Assembly Special Funds Accounts Committee, which is chaired by Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Mohammed.

Kinyua told the committee that transferring the cargo from the two vessels to other ships is expected to take roughly 60 days. He said the petroleum products on board remained safe, a point that separates the condition of the consignment from the state of the vessels’ propulsion.

He linked the attacks to mounting tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, saying vessels connected to Saudi Arabia were being targeted. Kenya’s fuel imports are channelled through a government-to-government supply arrangement with Saudi Arabia, which Kinyua presented as the safeguard intended to keep supplies available.

The disclosures came as MPs pressed EPRA over the latest pump price increases, particularly given earlier assurances from the President that fuel prices would not rise. The current EPRA review took effect on October 15 and runs to November 14, 2026. Under it, super petrol rose by Sh12.33 a litre, diesel by Sh9.90 and kerosene by Sh28.49. In Nairobi, kerosene now retails at Sh219.87 a litre against Sh227.76 for diesel.

Kinyua attributed part of the pressure to the Middle East conflict, which he said disrupted Gulf shipments and pushed importers towards alternatives such as Singapore, where fuel costs more. He warned that prices could climb further during the winter season depending on regional developments, while maintaining that Kenya’s prices remain competitive against those of neighbouring countries.

On kerosene, Kinyua said the fuel would have been at least Sh30 a litre cheaper than diesel had the government kept the subsidy. Withdrawing it narrowed the kerosene-diesel gap to Sh7.89 a litre. That gap had reached a record Sh90.14 a litre in the month ending June 14, 2026, when kerosene received a subsidy of up to Sh91.29 a litre. He also noted that an anti-adulteration levy of Sh18 a litre of kerosene was introduced before 2018 in response to widespread fuel adulteration.

Kinyua said EPRA is exploring alternative energy sources, though he acknowledged that moving away from petroleum is difficult given how widely it is used.

The committee also examined Auditor General’s reports on EPRA’s Staff Mortgage and Car Loan Scheme covering the 2021/2022 to 2024/2025 financial years. The audit raised concerns over interest charges and budget controls. It also flagged loan administration costs and the interest earned on deposits, alongside construction loans and risk management.

EPRA explained that car loan interest dropped from 4 per cent to 3 per cent in August 2022 after changes to its agreement with Kenya Commercial Bank. The authority said its Staff Mortgage and Car Loan Policy was approved by the board in December 2023. For 2023/2024, when no approved budget existed for interest income and administration costs, the scheme ran on a board-approved budget within the consolidated budget. Construction loans are released in stages, with inspections and progress reports required before further funds are issued. The committee will weigh the audit findings and EPRA’s responses in a report spanning the four financial years covered.

The post Drones Hit Two Fuel Tankers Bound for Kenya as EPRA Flags 60-Day Cargo Transfer appeared first on Nairobi Wire.