Rwanda: Fuel Crisis Imminent Violence in Kenya Continues – Official

Rwanda has not experienced any shortages of petroleum products but should the violence in Kenya continue unabated – the effects will spill over, senior private sector official said on Wednesday.

According to Mr. Emmanuel Hategeka – Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Private Sector Federation, Rwanda has sufficient fuel reserves at the moment that may run out anytime soon because there are no imports coming in, the state broadcaster reported.


Reports from Uganda suggest that fuel shortage, especially of petrol, has disrupted the transport sector and has pushed transport fares up. The shortages were caused by the post-election violence in Kenya, which followed the weekend announcement of Mwai Kibaki as the winner. The riots have blocked the Kenya-Uganda cross-border trade.

“As I talk now, the Kenya energy officials are meeting to lay strategies of escorting fuel tankers to the border. This will ensure constant fuel flow into the country,” the New Vision in Uganda quotes Mr. Fred Kaliisa – an Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary to have said.

“We are looking at using Dar-es-Salaam as an alternative but the problem is the delays associated with the route.”

Rwanda News Agency