KPC says its teams secured an illegal connection between two pumping stations before anyone could siphon fuel.
The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) has foiled a fuel theft attempt involving an illegal connection in Mombasa County. Police at Chaani Police Station have opened an investigation.
In a statement on Tuesday, November 3, KPC said its teams detected the connection during routine surveillance the previous day. The connection targeted the line linking Pumping Station 14 and Pumping Station 15.
Teams stop fuel theft attempt before any loss
KPC said its security and pipeline maintenance teams traced the illegal connection during their inspections on Monday, November 2. Its emergency and incident response teams then helped foil the attempt to siphon petroleum products.
The company’s officers secured the site before reporting the matter to Chaani Police Station. Police subsequently began investigating the attempted theft.
Meanwhile, KPC General Manager Dinah Kirwa confirmed that the monitoring teams intervened before anyone could remove fuel. She said the company lost no petroleum products because the teams promptly detected and secured the connection.
Kirwa also described the attempt as a criminal act and said the relevant authorities were investigating it.
Higher fuel prices add to supply concerns
The incident comes amid concerns about fuel shortages following price increases for the October–November pricing cycle. On October 14, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority raised prices across all three main fuel products.
Petrol rose by KSh12.93 per litre, while diesel increased by KSh9.90. Kerosene recorded the largest rise, at KSh28.49 per litre.
Following those adjustments, petrol costs KSh226.96 per litre and diesel KSh227.76. Kerosene, meanwhile, costs KSh219.87 per litre under the prices that remain in effect until November 14.
The ministry attributed the increases to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, which have disrupted fuel supply.
