Raila Files Investigation Request into Petroleum Importation

Zimio chief Raila Oginga, through his lawyer Paul Mwangi, has submitted a formal letter requesting an investigation into the G-to-G petroleum importation deal.

Amolo Odinga urged authorities to enforce accountability in the oil importation scandal, citing collective silence as a potential misunderstanding.

Legal Mandates

The investigation outlines several key roles and responsibilities through the Kenyan Constitution

Among the them is that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission ensures compliance with Chapter Six and investigates corruption, bribery, and economic crimes.

Another is that the Auditor-General ensures lawful use of public money and can conduct investigations independently or based on complaints.

And lastly, in the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority regulates petroleum importation, refining, exportation, transportation, storage, and sale in Kenya.

The Agreements and Findings

Kenya’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum signed three Master Framework Agreements with Aramco Trading Fujairah FZE, Emirates National Oil Company (Singapore) Private Limited, and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Limited on March 10, 2023.

The Kenyan government has signed an Operations Agreement with three oil marketing companies to import refined petroleum products.

The Cabinet Secretaries of the National Treasury and Economic Planning, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, and Principal Secretary in the State Department for Petroleum executed two agreements.

Lawyer Mwangi said the following observations were made after reviewing the agreements provided by Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga.

The oil importation deal between Kenya and Saudi Arabia and the UAE is a commercial contractual arrangement with private companies, none of which represent the claimed sovereign entities.

The Master Framework agreements do not mention the “Government to Government” phase or any understanding between Kenya’s Government and any sovereign government.

The Operational Agreement, which introduced the phrase “Government to Government,” aimed to undermine Kenya’s procurement laws on goods and services.