Long queues at fuel stations as motorists rush to stock up

Motorists queue for fuel at Shell on Thika road on September 6, 2018. PHOTO | KANYIRI WAHITO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The Energy Regulatory Commission suspended the licenses of the independent truckers because of spearheading the strike.
  • Vihiga Senator George Khaniri threatened to organise demonstrations in his county if the 16 percent VAT imposed on petroleum products is not reversed.

Motorists queued for hours on Thursday as one of the most severe and bizarre fuel shortages hit many parts of the country.

By last evening, National Oil in Chuka town, which was the only fuel station left with the commodity, was selling a litre of super petrol at Sh150.

In Nairobi, most filling stations had run dry on Tuesday evening and the few that had fuel witnessed long queues leading into them.

In the morning, only the Total filling station on Waiyaki Way was operational. Motorists queued along one lane of the dual carriage way leading into the station as they waited to fill up their tanks.

In Machakos, some parts of the county were also hit by the shortage.

A spot check by the Nation in Kangundo and Tala towns revealed that a number of fuel stations had run dry, with those which still had the precious commodity, mainly diesel, experiencing long queues of motorists seeking to fill up.

POLICE ESCORT

Kenol Machakos proprietor Boniface Mutunga revealed that his station had no fuel at all and they were waiting for suppliers to deliver the commodity.

Kobil owner Gloria Kioko said that they had been left with little fuel and the lines were long, adding that the stock they had would run out by mid morning.

At Shell filling station, the manager, Joseph Mutuku, said that they also had been left with little fuel and that they no longer had diesel.

In Nairobi, petroleum distributors began to transport fuel from the Nairobi depot, despite the ongoing strike by the independent fuel dealers.

Companies such as Astrol, Vivo Energy, National Oil, Oil Libya and Kenol Kobil began loading and transporting the fuel amid heavily armoured police security.

Officers from the General Service Unit took over the small area leading to the depot, dispersing the independent fuel truck drivers and traders in the vicinity, thus preventing possible confrontations.

The drivers had since Monday camped at the depot and prevented trucks from being loaded with fuel.

SUSPENSION

This was in an attempt to force the government to rescind its decision to implement the International Monetary Fund's directive to impose tax on fuel.

On Wednesday evening, the Energy Regulatory Commission suspended the licences of the independent truckers because of spearheading the strike.

Kenya Pipeline Company Eldoret depot manager Antony Sang told the Nation that operations had normalised after delays experienced earlier in the week as a result of system upgrade.

In most petrol stations within Eldoret town, operations were normal.

Vihiga Senator George Khaniri threatened to organise demonstrations in his county if the 16 percent value-added tax imposed on petroleum products is not reversed.

At the coast, commuters will now pay more after fares were hiked due to increased fuel prices.

Rickshaw owners said due to low profits, they had to hike the fares.

Reported by Alex Njeru, Macharia Mwangi, Mercy Koskey, Diana Kimanzi, Joyce Mwihaki Derick Luvega, Elizabeth Ojina, Agewa Magut, Gastone Valusi, Dennis Lubanga, Stephen Muthini, Winnie Atieno and Diana Mutheu