Garissa hit by fuel shortage

Motorists and boda boda riders in Garissa on Sunday woke up to a major fuel shortage, with only one filling station serving the whole town.

The station is also serving residents of the neighboring Madogo in Tana River county.

Several travellers are stranded with no hope of receiving fuel.

Yahya Maalim was travelling to Nairobi from Mandera but after covering almost 12 hours of his journey, he ran short of fuel and is stranded at Garissa.

“I left Mandera two days ago knowing that I will refuel in Garissa but there is no fuel in petrol stations. I have no choice but to spend another night, which is a great inconvenience,” he said.

Most boda boda riders who transport goods to small towns in the interior part of the county could not do so for fear of getting stranded on the way.

Charles Otieno a boda boda rider who transports fresh milk from Bangale to Garissa town could not do so since his tank was empty.

“I cannot supply milk to my daily customers. This means I will make huge loses until they have fuel back in our petrol stations,” he said.

Another rider, Abdirizack Bonja said the fuel shortage was making life more difficult.

“We are already grappling with a price increase on every item. We are really struggling to make ends meet and now there's a fuel shortage. Where is the government we elected to address our issues?” he said.

Those who spoke to the press said the government should address the crisis as soon as possible since most of them eke their living from the transport sector.

Sources have linked the fuel shortage to delays in reimbursement of more than Sh13 billion in subsidy cash to oil marketers.

The state introduced the scheme last year, where it pays oil marketers for the high cuts on their margins to keep recommended pump prices.

Last week, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority said the shortage has been occasioned by unprecedented logistical constraints.

The authority however said there was enough fuel supplies in the country.

"EPRA together with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, oil marketers and other stakeholders have resolved the issues affecting supply and are working towards the restoration of normalcy," the statement read.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)