The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) halted a portion of its Mombasa-Nairobi pipeline after a drilling operation punctured the line near Tassia, resulting in a petroleum leak in Nairobi.
The incident occurred at about 9 am on Monday, November 9, 2026, on Line 5, which runs from the coastal city to the capital.
KPC identified a contractor hired by the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) to carry out a geotechnical survey and drilling as the source of the damage.
Acting Managing Director Pius Mwendwa said KPC isolated the damaged segment and sent its incident-management, pipeline-repair and fire-safety teams to the site, adding that “the situation is under control.”
The company also worked with security and emergency agencies to cordon off the area and deployed extra staff and equipment for product containment, recovery, environmental management and public safety.
Investigations have been launched, with KRC drill-rig operators assisting the Kenya Police Service, while KPC technical teams assess the damage and plan repairs, according to Mwendwa’s statement that “investigations are underway.”
KPC did not reveal the volume of product released, the extent of any environmental harm, the expected repair duration or whether fuel deliveries to Nairobi will be affected.
Line 5 is part of a 450-kilometre pipeline commissioned in 2018, has a 20-inch diameter and can move roughly 1,000 cubic metres per hour, replacing an older Mombasa-Nairobi line and supported by pumping stations along its route.
KPC’s overall network stretches about 1,342 kilometres, delivering petroleum from the Port of Mombasa to inland depots in Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu, as well as to regional markets.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to contain the leak, mitigate any environmental impact and restore the site in line with safety and environmental standards.
