As escalating conflict in the Middle East sends global crude prices soaring, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has moved to calm jitters at home, assuring that Kenya holds sufficient petroleum stocks to serve domestic needs and supply the neighbouring markets.

In a statement on Tuesday, CS Wandayi said that his ministry has made arrangements for sufficient oil imports, covering up to the end of April 2026.

“We are assured of security of supply. We are closely monitoring the fluid situation as it evolves whilst engaging with our G-G suppliers for contingency planning,” CS Wandayi noted in his statement. 

He added, “We wish to assure the public and all stakeholders that the Ministry remains alert and shall continue taking necessary actions to ensure there is uninterrupted supply.”

Stung by scarcity of US dollar demand, Kenya entered into a government to government (G-G) arrangement with oil giants in the crisis-saddled Middle East to secure supply of the commodity. 

Some of the companies engaged in Kenya’s G-G deal include Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), with local oil marketers such as Gulf Energy, Galana Energies, Asharami, One Petroleum involved. The G-G arrangement was renewed on or around April 2025 to cover the period up to 2027. 

Kenya’s G-G deal, which covers the importation of petroleum, diesel and jet fuel, offers the government 180-day credit period, a plan that was adopted to help stabilize the shilling and, therefore, ease dollar demand in the market.

CS Wandayi's assurances to stakeholders come at a time when oil markets experienced a sharp increase in the price of oil on Tuesday in reaction to threats by Iran to "set fire to anyone who tries to pass through" the Strait of Hormuz, a key choke point on the country's shores.

In global markets early Tuesday Brent crude traded at 3.2 percent higher, crossing the $80 per barrel price, while US-traded oil posted 2.6 percent uptick in prices.

Since Saturday, 28th February 2026, the U.S. and Israel have intensified military strikes targeting Iranian weapon manufacturing and storage systems across the country. In response, Iran has volleyed missile strikes to Israel and its neighbours: Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.

The conflict has already affected key oil and gas production facilities such as a Qatar Energy plant as well as Saudi Aramco's refinery, prompting the companies to halt operations.

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