Kenya has strengthened its position as East Africa’s fuel gateway after securing a new petroleum supply pact with Rwanda.
Through a Government-to-Government (G2G) framework, the two governments have signed a three-part agreement for Rwanda’s importation of refined petroleum products through the Port of Mombasa and Kenya’s pipeline network.
The agreements, signed in Nairobi on June 29, consist of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a Tripartite Agreement (TPA), and a Transport and Storage Agreement (TSA).
The agreements are the result of a negotiation process that started with a bilateral meeting in Kigali in November 2024 and were approved by Kenya’s Cabinet on June 16, 2026, creating the foundation for full implementation.
Together, they offer Rwanda a structured framework to independently source refined petroleum products while leveraging Kenya’s petroleum infrastructure for transportation, storage, and logistics.
The agreements were signed by representatives of the Kenyan and Rwandan governments, the Rwanda National Energy Company (RNEC), and the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC).
Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi witnessed the signing together with Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Antoine-Marie Kajangwe, and other senior government and energy sector officials.
Under the new framework, KPC becomes Rwanda’s strategic logistics partner, leveraging its vast pipeline network, storage terminals, and marine infrastructure to facilitate the movement of fuel from the Port of Mombasa into Rwanda.
The partnership is expected to increase petroleum throughput significantly, improving utilization of Kenya’s pipeline network while creating additional storage revenues for KPC and enhancing regional trade flows.
According to KPC, Rwanda’s annual petroleum imports transported through the corridor are projected to increase more than tenfold, from approximately 42,000 cubic metres recorded in 2025 to about 500,000 cubic metres annually under the new arrangement.
Cabinet Secretary Wandayi described the agreements as more than just a legal framework, saying they represent Kenya’s long-term commitment to guaranteeing a secure and reliable supply of refined petroleum products to Rwanda while deepening economic integration within the East African Community.
“The volumes are set to grow more than tenfold. But the numbers are not the endgame; what this represents for our two great nations is deeper economic integration that will serve the East African Community and the Great Lakes Region for several decades to come,” he said.
For Rwanda, the partnership provides direct access to Kenya’s petroleum logistics ecosystem, including import coordination, strategic storage, and pipeline transportation, reducing logistical bottlenecks and improving supply chain resilience against regional and global disruptions.
KPC said it has also extended the storage period for Rwanda-bound PMS and AGO cargoes from 35 days to 90 days for an initial two-year period, helping to lower logistics costs as Rwanda scales up imports under the new arrangement.
Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Antoine-Marie Kajangwe, said the agreements mark a turning point for the country’s energy future by guaranteeing reliable, affordable, and secure access to petroleum products while strengthening trust and cooperation between the two countries.
“These agreements are the product of trust between our two governments, our institutions, and our people. We look forward to welcoming the first cargo in September as the beginning of a long and prosperous journey together,” he remarked.
KPC Acting Managing Director Pius Mwendwa said the agreements marked the culmination of a decade-long effort to recapture the Rwandan market.
“Over the past decade, KPC PLC, with the support of the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and EPRA, has relentlessly pursued this market, deploying all possible strategies. We found ourselves serving only 10% or less of Rwanda’s market demand. I am elated that the page turns today for the better,” he stated.
Implementation of the agreements will begin immediately through KPC, RNEC, and the relevant government agencies.
The maiden cargo, designated RNEC 001/2026, is expected to arrive at the Port of Mombasa between September 4 and 6, 2026, officially marking the operational commencement of the strategic partnership and a new chapter in regional petroleum trade.
– By Daniel Kamau
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