As per the Kenyan authorities’ reports, they cancelled all work permits of the French chief executive of one of the most prominent oil marketers in Kenya following a fuel shortage crisis.
The government of Kenya is said to have ordered the expulsion of Christian Bergeron, the chief executive of Rubis Energy Kenya – a subsidiary of France-based Rubis Group.
On Tuesday, 12 April 2022, the energy regulator blamed some oil marketers for withholding fuel supply to the local market and giving priority to exports to neighbouring countries.
As per the regulator, these companies would be punished, and the government will restrict the volumes of fuel they will be allowed to import for the next three months.
It is estimated that Kenya fuel companies sell about 65 percent of their imports to the local market and leftover to the neighbouring landlocked Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Congo.
Recently, there has been a significant commodity shortage across the country, with long queues forming in pump stations.
According to the Kenyan authorities, there is enough stock in the storage facilities.
There is one myth among people that some marketers have been collecting fuel in expectation of a price increase on Thursday when the regulator reviews prices for the next month.
According to the experts, the country is suffering from these crises because of the delay in disbursing fuel subsidies owed to oil marketers.
Kenya subsidises fuel prices to cushion consumers from higher fuel pump prices.
However, oil marketers have been complaining of delays by the government to reimburse them for the government-subsidised prices they charge consumers.
Moreover, the administration released some of the delayed payments last week.