Nairobi Petrol Stations Run Out of Fuel After Boycott by Suppliers

Motorists in Nairobi on Wednesday morning were left in panic after petrol stations experienced a shortage of fuel.

A spot check at some of the stations within the capital showed motorists lining up and others rushing to purchase the little fuel left.

At Shell Valley Road, pump attendants expressed their supply would not last past midday on Wednesday.

The same was experience at Total petrol station along Likoni road where fuel ran out in the morning and only one pump had diesel by 11:30 am.

Outlets in Nairobi and neighbouring towns such as Kiambu and Thika have already started to experience a shortage of super petrol and diesel.

Other towns said to be affected by the shortage include Nakuru, Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu, which is credited to oil marketers collecting 11 million litres of fuel as opposed to the daily average of 19 million litres.

This turn of events has been occasioned by suppliers failing to stock fuel as a way of protesting the hiked prices brought about by the 16%fFuel tax levy.

The boycott began on Monday after the coming into effect of clauses in the VAT tax Act of 2013 that imposes the 16% levy on petroleum products.

Kenya Independent Petroleum Dealers Association (KIPEDA), a lobby for small oil marketers estimated to command at least half of the market’s share, through its chair insisted the strike will proceed until the government reverses the additional tax charges.

Towns along the border are affected as Kenyans chose to fuel in neighbouring countries such as Uganda and Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, a litre of petrol is reported to retail at Ksh 75 while the same goes for Ksh 130 in Kenya whereas, in Uganda, a litre of petrol costs Ksh 110 and diesel Ksh 102 compared to Kenya where the same goes forKsh 131 and Ksh 118 respectively.  



 

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