The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority(EPRA) has blacklisted a total of 18 petrol stations for selling adulterated fuel.
This follows a crackdown conducted by EPRA across the country between April and June to weed out fueling stations that are not compliant with its set regulations.
The authority inspected a total of 1,529 petrol stations where they carried out tests to ensure the stations were selling fuel that match the required quality.
Among the evaluated petrol stations, 1,511 were compliant, making a huge percentage as compared to 18 which were non-compliant.
Those caught on the wrong side of the law include Wilbur Petroleum Filling Station located in Kajiado county, Kaptama Filling Station in Bungoma, Station One Filling Station in Transzoia, Obola Filling Station in Kisumu, Never Soft Filling Station in Dandora, Hakkaido Filling Station in Makadara among others.
Kaptama Filling Station was busted selling diesel meant for export, attracting a fine of Ksh121,414, while One Filling and Wilbur Petrol Station were caught selling adulterated fuel.
Wilbur and Obala Petrol Station were selling petrol mixed with kerosene, leading to their complete shutdown.
During the crackdown, EPRA also impounded a lorry ferrying adulterated diesel meant for export, driving from Uganda.
Most of the stations found selling adulterated diesel and petrol like Bellas Filling Station in Siaya, were closed, but Ola Energy Maua Filling Station in Meru managed to pay a fine of Ksh150,000 and was thus reopened.
The crackdown was aimed at identifying, closing and fining petrol stations selling adulterated products and those selling petrol or diesel meant for export.
EPRA on liquidated Petroleum gas
EPRA also conducted a crackdown against Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Lpg) malpractices between March 28, 2023, and June 27, 2023.
The malpractices sometimes result in the loss of lives when the gas cylinders blow up burning properties and sometimes people.
The business has been lucrative for many, with some offering substandard gas and gas cylinders at lower prices.
New fuel prices
On Friday, June 30, 2023, EPRA is set to announce new fuel prices with the added 16% Value Added Tax that was engraved in the contentious Finance Act 2023.
Kenyans will therefore need to brace themselves for tough times ahead since fuel determines the cost of most commodities and services.
If hiked, fuel prices will affect bus fares, the price of foodstuffs, electricity, and all commodities that must be transported to the market.
This comes even as most Kenyans continue to grapple with the tough economic times.
The leader of the opposition and Azimio Coalition Raila Odinga, who was against the Finance Bill, advised Kenyans to deny the incumbent government taxes by boycotting fuel consumption.
Raila advised private car owners to park their vehicles and use public transport, adding that public service vehicles should also carry passengers in excess to accommodate more people and reduce fuel consumption.
