Kenya and Uganda have initiated discussions on extending the Eldoret-Kampala petroleum products pipeline, as announced by the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) on Tuesday. This strategic extension aims to enhance regional fuel distribution and improve access to petroleum products.
Uganda’s Energy Minister, Ruth Ssentamu, recently visited Kenya, where she met with key officials from Kenya’s Energy Ministry, including Principal Secretary Mohammed Liban. The delegation also toured KPC headquarters in Nairobi to discuss the project’s scope and logistics.
The extension plan involves Kenya constructing a multi-product pipeline from Eldoret to the border town of Malaba, approximately 127 kilometers away. Uganda will then build a connecting pipeline from Malaba to Kampala, covering about 236 kilometers. Future discussions may include extending the pipeline to Rwanda’s capital, Kigali.
KPC Managing Director Joe Sang emphasized that this extension is crucial for Kenya’s strategic interests, particularly as Uganda shifts towards independent fuel imports and seeks more competitive pricing. The new pipeline will strengthen Kenya’s role in the regional petroleum market.
The project follows a period of strained relations between Kenya and Uganda over fuel import rights and pipeline access. The dispute, which led to legal action and high-level diplomatic interventions, has been addressed, paving the way for this collaborative infrastructure development.
The pipeline extension is expected to significantly impact the region’s fuel import market and streamline transportation. Despite Uganda’s move towards independent imports under a new agreement with Vitol Bahrain, it will continue to rely on Kenya’s port of Mombasa and KPC infrastructure for oil transport.
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