On Tuesday October 27 the Petroleum Outlets Association of Kenya and the Kenya Independent Petroleum Dealers Association released a joint statement telling independent petroleum operators across the country to stop buying fuel from any supplier whose charges exceed the wholesale limits set by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The two bodies said oil marketing companies are charging above the authorised caps, leaving dealers unable to restock while still selling at the approved retail rates, and noted that complaints lodged with EPRA and the State Department for Petroleum have not produced any action.
“We advise all petroleum operators countrywide to immediately suspend the purchase of petroleum products at rates exceeding the gazetted EPRA wholesale limits,” the statement read.
EPRA had announced on October 14 the maximum wholesale prices for the period October 15 to November 14, 2026, fixing Nairobi caps at KSh211.80 per litre for petrol, KSh212.60 for diesel and KSh204.79 for kerosene; the corresponding retail caps were KSh226.96, KSh227.76 and KSh219.87 respectively.
The new pricing cycle lifted Nairobi pump prices by KSh12.93 for petrol, KSh9.90 for diesel and KSh28.49 for kerosene after the government suspended the price stabilisation mechanism that had previously cushioned motorists from global oil price rises.
The associations added that “independent stations nationwide are facing critical product stock-outs” and warned that continued breaches could force station closures, risking fuel shortages for transport companies, delivery services and other businesses that rely on a steady supply.
As of Wednesday October 28 neither EPRA nor the State Department for Petroleum had issued a public response to the allegations.
