Operations at Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) are now under new temporary leadership after a dramatic turn of events saw Managing Director Joe Sang arrested in an ongoing fuel probe.
In response, the board has appointed General Manager for Finance, Pius Mwendwa, to serve as acting Managing Director while investigations continue.
Announcing the changes, board chairperson Faith Bett-Boinett said the decision was necessary to keep the company steady during the uncertainty.
“To ensure business continuity in the intervening period, Mr Pius Mwendwa (GM-Finance) will discharge the duties of the office of the Managing Director,” she said.
She added that the board is not taking the matter lightly and is already engaging authorities to get a clear picture of what exactly happened.
“The Board is monitoring the situation and is in communication with the relevant institutions to understand the nature and scope of the allegations,” Bett-Boinett stated.
Despite the unfolding situation, she moved to reassure Kenyans and stakeholders that the company is still running as expected.
“We wish to assure our stakeholders, our shareholders and the public that KPC’s operations remain stable and unaffected,” she said.
The leadership change follows the arrest of Sang by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, in a case linked to suspected fuel supply irregularities within the energy sector.
The probe is believed to revolve around how fuel was procured and whether proper standards were followed, amid fears that contaminated or substandard products could have found their way into the market.
The investigation is not limited to Kenya Pipeline alone. Reports indicate that several senior officials in the energy sector are also under scrutiny, raising concern about possible systemic gaps in oversight and regulation.
This has drawn public attention, especially at a time when some motorists have been raising questions about fuel quality and performance.
Even with the pressure mounting, Kenya Pipeline Company insists its systems are intact and that fuel movement across the country has not been disrupted.
For Mwendwa, the appointment places him at the centre of a delicate situation — keeping one of the country’s most critical state corporations running smoothly. At the same time, authorities work to uncover the truth behind the allegations.
How the investigations unfold in the coming days could have far-reaching implications, not just for those involved but for the wider energy sector in Kenya.
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