Four senior government officials linked to the ongoing fuel importation saga returned to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for further questioning, just a day after they were released on police bail. The four had earlier resigned following their arrest on Easter Eve, as investigators continue to dig deeper into the matter.
The officials, Mohammed Liban, Joe Sang, Daniel Kiptoo, and Joseph Wafula, spent the better part of the day recording statements and responding to questions from detectives. During the session, they maintained that their decisions were not made individually but were guided by recommendations from the National Security Council Committee.
According to their account, the move to source fuel from a different region outside the usual government-to-government framework was meant to prevent a possible fuel shortage. They explained that rising tensions linked to the conflict involving the United States, Iran, and Israel had raised fears of supply disruptions, forcing authorities to consider alternative sources to stabilize the country’s fuel supply.
The investigation has since widened, with at least 20 people now listed as persons of interest. Among them is a director of a private petroleum company believed to be connected to the importation of 68,000 metric tonnes of substandard fuel. All those identified have already recorded statements with investigators as the probe gathers pace.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, no formal charges had been filed against any of the suspects by Tuesday evening. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had not indicated whether it had received the investigation files from the DCI, leaving uncertainty over the next legal steps.
Political pressure continues to build around the case. Rigathi Gachagua, leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party, has called for transparency regarding the investigation. He questioned the authorities on the amount of money allegedly recovered during the arrests and whether proper records were taken.
The four officials had been arrested last Thursday in an operation that drew public attention, spending the Easter weekend in custody before being released on bail. The unfolding saga has left many questions unanswered, with Kenyans closely following developments as authorities work to establish what exactly happened and who should be held responsible.