Fuel crisis bites in Nairobi as motorists, drivers count losses

A crippling fuel shortage has gripped Nairobi, leaving motorists stranded, transport operations disrupted, and drivers counting heavy losses as the crisis spreads.

From South C to Embakasi, Thika Road to Mlolongo, desperate motorists were on Tuesday forced to hop from one petrol station to another in search of fuel—often without success.

A spot-check by The Standard revealed that the shortage, which appeared to be worsening, has particularly hit diesel supplies, grounding public service vehicles (PSVs), trucks, and taxis.

“I have struggled because of fuel. This is my third petrol station and I still haven’t found any,” said Peter Mukiri, a taxi driver operating around South C said when The Standard encountered him as he joined a cue to fuel his car at Rubis, Bellevue. 

“As transport workers, we are asking the government to act and restore normalcy,” he decried. 

For many drivers, the situation has not only disrupted their daily routines but also strained their finances. Paul Odhiambo, a taxi driver, narrated how he was forced to adjust his budget drastically after hours of searching.

“I was heading to the airport from town and passed several Shell stations with no fuel,” he said. “I had to come all the way to Rubis Bellevue to get fuel. It has already interfered with my budget. I usually fuel with Sh1,500, but today I had to put in Sh5,000 because I don’t know when I’ll find fuel again.”

Truck drivers, who depend on consistent diesel supply for long-haul deliveries, say the shortage has brought their operations to a standstill. 

Patrick Mwangi, whose truck ran out of fuel and got stranded in South C along Mombasa Road, described the situation as dire.

"I left Kitengela and passed through Mlolongo, but there was no fuel anywhere. Now I’m stuck in Bellevue, and work has stopped,” he said, questioning the credibility of government promises.

“We were told fuel cannot run out. We are asking the government for answers because work has stopped. Today, I will incur losses of not less than Sh15,000, and I have a client’s cargo. I cannot move,” he lamented. 

Fredrick Omondi, a PSV driver experienced having his 14-seater matatu vehicle run out of petrol while queuing to fuel, painted a grim picture of the situation.

“From town to South C, all petrol stations have no fuel. Now I am stuck here after running out,” he said. “Many vehicles, especially diesel ones, are stranded. Most have been parked because there is no fuel. You wake up at 3am and go back home with nothing because of the shortage.”

The ripple effects of the shortage are already being felt across the city, with commuters likely to bear the brunt through increased fares and reduced availability of transport.

The spot-check further revealed that the crisis is not confined to a single area. Similar incidents have been reported in multiple filling stations across Nairobi. In Embakasi, attendants at Rubis stations confirmed running out of diesel, leaving only limited supplies of super petrol.

“We are expecting another supply tomorrow (Wednesday). For now, we only have super petrol,” said one attendant who requested anonymity.

At the newly established Total station along the pipeline, motorists faced a similar situation, with diesel unavailable and long queues forming for the remaining petrol supplies. Along Thika Road, several stations were also reported to have run dry, further compounding the crisis.

Motorists are now calling on the government to urgently intervene and provide clarity on the cause of the shortage, as well as timelines for resolution. “This is not just an inconvenience—it is a crisis,” said Mukiri. “We need answers and action.”

This despite the government assuring Kenyans in the recent past that there is adequate fuel to run the economy efficiently. 

“We further wish to reassure the public that there are sufficient stocks of petroleum products to meet current demand. We reiterate the government’s commitment to ensuring an uninterrupted supply of quality petroleum products for both Kenya and regional markets,” Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said last month.