NAIROBI, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Thursday announced an adjustment to its fuel importation standards aimed at ensuring adequate local supply and maintaining economic stability amid disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
"In full consideration of the need to safeguard the welfare of Kenyan consumers and the stability of the economy, the ministry has temporarily waived the sulphur parameter to a maximum limit of 50 mg/kg for automotive gas oil and premium motor spirit for a period of six months," said Lee Kinyanjui, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry.
The move marks a reversal of previously stricter fuel standards aimed at improving air quality. Authorities said the adjustment will allow oil marketers to source fuel from a broader range of international suppliers, helping sustain supply.
Kinyanjui said Kenya has experienced supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has affected key shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
In mid-April, the government raised fuel prices to record highs amid a global supply crisis triggered by U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, pushing the average price of diesel and petrol to about 200 shillings (about 1.5 U.S. dollars).
The price increases have had a ripple effect on inflation, which rose to 5.6 percent in April from 4.4 percent in March, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
The bureau also noted that Kenya's economy grew at a slower pace of 4.6 percent in 2025, down from 4.7 percent in 2024. The government expects the adjustment in fuel standards to help cushion the economy against ongoing external shocks.
