CS OPIYO WANDAYI MAKES INAUGURAL VISIT TO KPC MOMBASA, WARN SQUATTERS
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi made his inaugural visit to Kenya Pipeline Company installations in Mombasa with a clarion call to squatters to voluntarily vacate the KPC land they have encroached or face eviction.
Addressing the press after touring KPC installations at Kipevu Oil Terminal 2 and the Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited (KPRL), Wandayi said the government has a duty to protect lives and properties of Kenyans and cannot turn a blind eye to what he termed as a time bomb.
“We will first target the “big fish” who have put up rental houses in the area and have been collecting rent from the squatters,’ he added.
“The continued occupation of land belonging to KPC, endangers the lives of squatters because their settlement is close to KPC facilities that transport highly flammable petroleum products which are pumped at an extremely high pressure. In the event of a calamity, the repercussion will be so dire thus as a government we cannot turn a blind eye to these squatters,” he added.
The CS pledged to execute the exercise with a humane face, by incorporating all the stakeholders. He cited the County Government of Mombasa, Local political leadership as well as the Provincial Administration as part of the entities to participate in the exercise.
Mr. Wandayi congratulated KPC members of staff for the splendid job they were doing of ensuring Kenya and the region has adequate fuel to run their economies.
“Kenya has enough and steady supply of fuel to meet domestic and regional demand. This is all attributed to teamwork by members of staff and the parastatal leadership,” he added. The CS added that the government will use capacity at KPRL as storage for imported refined petroleum products.
“Amalgamating KPC and KPRL is a strategy to enhance storage capacity and ensure the country and the region have sufficient fuel to drive their economies,” he said.
The CS was accompanied during the tour by Petroleum Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Liban, KPC directors, Dr. Eng. Edward Musebe, Joyce Emanikor, Mohammed Birik, Mutungwa Wambua, Managing Director Joe Sang and senior managers.