President William Ruto’s administration is facing intense backlash following the cabinet’s decision to privatise the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), a move that has stirred widespread concern among Kenyans.
The plan involves listing KPC’s shares on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), allowing private investors to buy into one of the country’s most critical national assets.
Just a day after the cabinet approved the controversial decision, the Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) strongly condemned the move.
In a statement released on Wednesday, July 30, the association voiced deep concerns over what it called a “reckless” decision that threatens Kenya’s sovereignty over its energy infrastructure.
“The Motorists Association of Kenya registers its strongest opposition to the cabinet’s announcement to privatise KPC. This decision undermines public trust and puts at risk one of the most important national assets we have as a country,” the statement read.
MAK pointed out that the privatisation was pushed through without the involvement of Parliament, the public, or key industry stakeholders. They accused the government of ignoring constitutional principles such as transparency, accountability, and public participation.
According to the association, the lack of consultation raises suspicions that the plan is designed to benefit a small group of well-connected individuals and foreign investors.
“The cabinet’s move to list KPC shares on the NSE without any public consultation or debate in Parliament is unacceptable and unconstitutional. We already know how these shares will be bought—by wealthy private investors, foreigners, and politically connected elites, not ordinary Kenyans,” MAK claimed.
The association reminded the public that motorists—who include drivers, vehicle owners, and transport operators—are the largest consumers of the fuel and oil products transported by KPC.
As such, they argued that motorists are natural stakeholders in the company and deserve a seat at the table before any major decisions are made.
“Motorists consume more than 99 percent of the fuel and oil transported by KPC. This makes them essential stakeholders. Any decision affecting KPC’s future must involve consultation with the people who literally power the economy,” MAK emphasized.
In light of this, the Motorists Association demanded a detailed explanation from the government, a public apology, and the immediate withdrawal of the privatisation plans. They also urged Kenyans to reject the sale of KPC and defend their ownership of the vital infrastructure.
Despite the opposition, the government has defended its decision, saying the privatisation is part of a broader economic strategy to reduce state spending and improve operational efficiency in state-owned companies.
The cabinet argued that by bringing in private investors and industry professionals, companies like KPC could experience faster growth, better service delivery, and innovation.
Officials cited the successful example of KenGen’s partial privatisation, which transformed it into a highly profitable firm with operations extending beyond Kenya’s borders. The government hopes a similar approach with KPC will unlock new investments and economic opportunities.
As part of this plan, a portion of KPC’s government-held shares will be sold off to private investors, and the company will be listed on the NSE by September 2025. This will allow Kenyan citizens to purchase shares and become part-owners of the business.
KPC is not the only state corporation set for privatisation. Other entities slated for the same process include the Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB), Rivatex East Africa, the National Oil Corporation (NOC), and the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (NKCC).
President Ruto has insisted that the privatisation of these corporations is key to unlocking their potential and attracting private capital into key sectors of the economy.
Still, public pressure continues to mount, with many Kenyans demanding that the government put national interest first and preserve strategic assets like KPC from being handed over to private profiteers.
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