Kenya Faces Fuel Shortages Amid Iran Conflict and Frozen Prices

Kenya is facing fuel shortages as about 20% of independent outlets report low supplies due to the Iran conflict and frozen pump prices. Dealers may start hoarding in anticipation of price hikes. While the regulator says stocks are sufficient, rising demand and continued Middle East tensions could trigger a nationwide fuel crisis.

The head of Kenya’s independent fuel retailers has warned of growing shortages across the country as a result of the ongoing conflict in Iran, which has disrupted global oil and gas supplies. Martin Chomba, chairperson of the Petroleum Outlets Association of Kenya (POAK), told Reuters that around 20% of the country’s approximately 3,100 independent fuel outlets are already experiencing supply constraints. He said the situation is expected to worsen in the coming weeks if tensions in the Middle East continue, potentially leading to a nationwide fuel crisis.
Chomba explained that many dealers are likely to begin hoarding petroleum products in anticipation of a rise in consumer fuel prices next month, which could further strain supply and access for ordinary motorists. His association, which represents independent retailers, transporters, and other stakeholders serving about 68% of the national fuel market, has been actively engaging with the government to explore contingency measures, including ending the existing government-to-government fuel supply deals and allowing private fuel marketers to import directly from global suppliers.
African countries, including Kenya, are particularly vulnerable to disruptions in global energy supplies and price increases, as the conflict has already halted shipments of nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz. Kenya, in particular, sources all its fuel from the Middle East through government-to-government arrangements with Gulf crude producers and refiners, making the country heavily reliant on stable international supply channels.
On March 14, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Kenya’s state-run fuel regulator, announced that pump prices for petroleum products would remain unchanged for the next 30 days, despite rising global oil costs. Chomba described this decision as a temporary relief but cautioned that it could lead to hoarding as dealers anticipate inevitable price hikes in the near future.
EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria reassured the public that Kenya currently has “sufficient stocks” of fuel, and the regulator planned to issue a further statement later in the day to clarify the situation. Meanwhile, Nelson Koech, a ruling party lawmaker, noted that speculation, panic buying, and hoarding—particularly by oil marketers preparing for a price increase—have already caused a surge in demand over the past two weeks, affecting the availability of fuel in some outlets.
Chomba warned that if the Middle East conflict persists, the country could face a full-scale fuel shortage in just a matter of weeks, with most independent retailers unable to meet customer demand. He emphasized that urgent action from both the government and private sector stakeholders is needed to prevent a looming crisis that could disrupt transportation, commerce, and everyday life across Kenya.