The Kenyan Government has denied claims that the country is facing fuel crisis.
Petroleum PS Andrew Kamau is however blaming consumers for contributing to what he considers fake fuel crisis.
According to Kamau, the country has enough fuel in stock.
He claims that what is viewed as fuel crisis is a creation of the consumers engaging in panic buying of the commodity.
Kamau who was responding to media queries over the issue said that the situation begun to be experienced two weeks ago.
“The crisis begun in Western Kenya, when media reported that there is no fuel in Eldoret and some parts around Uganda border,” he said.
Then there was discussion that private marketers had an issue with accessing money to buy fuel.
Three major oil companies sold 17 million litres of fuel over the weekend, yet they always sell less than half of that within that period
PS Kamau
This led to the reaction, and Kenyans begun panic buying.
Pressure on suppliers
The PS said Kenyans begun to buy more for fear of looming shortage, and this led to pumps getting out of stock.
“Three major oil companies sold 17 million litres of fuel over the weekend, yet they always sell less than half of that within that period,” he said.
This led to pressure on the suppliers who have to adjust to the increased demand.
He said the more the press report about the shortage, the more people panic and scramble to buy.
The PS also said the government has since released Sh8 billion to the private oil marketers to enable them supply more.
He noted that the government is however investigating claims of hording of fuel by the marketers.