Kenya’s political arena has been rocked by explosive allegations this week as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Chief Justice (Rtd) David Maraga accused President William Ruto of personally profiting from the country’s controversial government-to-government (G2G) fuel importation deal — a claim the presidency has not formally addressed.
Speaking on behalf of the United Alternative Government at a packed press briefing in Karen, Nairobi, on April 15, 2026, Gachagua leveled what he described as evidence of “one of the greatest fuel scandals in the history of independent Kenya.”
The Core Allegation: KSh5 Per Litre for the President
At the heart of the bombshell statement is an allegation that President Ruto directly benefits from Kenya’s current fuel pricing structure. Gachagua claimed the President personally earns KSh5 for every litre of fuel consumed across the country.
Based on an estimated regional consumption of 500 million litres, the opposition calculates this translates to approximately KSh2.5 billion from the latest pricing cycle alone — and an alleged total of KSh30 billion since the G2G arrangement was first introduced.
These figures have not been independently verified, and the government has not provided a formal rebuttal to the specific financial claims.
What Is the G2G Fuel Deal?
The Government-to-Government (G2G) fuel importation framework involves Kenya procuring petroleum products directly from sovereign oil-producing nations, bypassing the traditional open-tender system. The deal currently includes three major international suppliers: Saudi Aramco (diesel and super petrol), Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) (diesel and jet fuel), and Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) (super petrol).
While the government has previously defended the arrangement as a stability measure designed to protect Kenya’s energy security from global market shocks, opposition leaders now argue the structure has become a channel for political profiteering.
Names Named: Who Did Gachagua Accuse?
The opposition did not hold back in naming alleged key players in the scandal. Gachagua listed the following individuals:
President William Ruto — identified as the alleged “team leader” of the fuel scandal
Felix Koskei — Head of Public Service
CS Opiyo Wandayi — Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum
Oburu Odinga — Senate Energy Committee Chairperson and alleged beneficial owner of BE Energy, a local oil marketing company nominated under the G2G framework
Gachagua further alleged that Gulf Energy — a company he described as a “proxy of President Ruto” — was included in the procurement process despite reportedly failing technical evaluation and missing submission deadlines.
Secret Dubai Meetings and a Presidential Veto
Among the most dramatic claims was the allegation that President Ruto personally overrode decisions made by then-Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Managing Director Joe Sang, former EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo, and former Petroleum Principal Secretary Liban Mohamed on emergency fuel importation procedures.
Gachagua further alleged that on the nights of April 5 and 6, 2026, a high-powered government delegation — including CS Wandayi and Acting EPRA CEO Eng. Joseph Oketje — was secretly dispatched to Dubai to renegotiate fuel pricing with international suppliers through Gulf Energy. According to the opposition, these closed-door meetings explain why CS Wandayi was absent when summoned to appear before Parliament.
