Nairobi: Reported accidents and incidents in the petroleum sector cost the Country’s economy more than Sh197 million in direct losses between July and December 2025.
According to Kenya News Agency, statistics analyzed by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) show that 83 per cent of these accidents occurred during the transportation of petroleum products.
EPRA Director, Petroleum and Gas Eng. Edward Kinyua emphasized that these losses have severe consequences that extend far beyond the consignor and the consignee, affecting communities and public systems, and highlighting a shared vulnerability that necessitates collective responsibility. “Accidents involving petroleum create heavy financial losses from damaged infrastructure, lost product, business interruptions, and legal liabilities. Furthermore, the environment suffers severe degradation due to soil, surface, and ground water contamination,” stated Eng. Kinyua.
He further elaborated on the tragic human costs, noting that lives are lost and families are permanently altered through life-threatening injuries, fatalities, and long-term disabilities. “These human costs translate into broader economic burdens of disrupted supply chains, job losses, increased insurance premiums, and a strain on healthcare facilities,” he added.
Eng. Kinyua addressed these issues against the backdrop of a recent fire at the Fourways petrol station along Kiambu Road, which resulted in the destruction of property worth millions. He stressed that safety is a shared responsibility among the petroleum transport company, the driver, the consignee, regulatory entities, and the public.
According to Eng. Kinyua, many accidents stem from ignored unsafe incidences that eventually lead to actual occurrences, which are technically classified as near misses. He disclosed that licensees in the sector are required to keep a record of near misses to develop and implement robust mitigation measures aimed at preventing real occurrences.
He highlighted that human factors are a leading cause of accidents in petroleum transportation. As a result, petroleum transport companies are mandated by the Petroleum (Licensing of Petroleum Road Transportation Business) Regulations, 2025, to implement structured journey management plans for petroleum deliveries. These plans include safe routes based on risk assessment, designated rest points, communication protocols, and contingency measures in the event of an accident.
Eng. Kinyua noted that monitoring driver behavior is emphasized in the Regulations. Petroleum transporters are required to implement Transport Safety Management Systems (TSMS), which institutionalize safety across their operations, including the use of GPS-enabled tracking systems for their fleets. Drivers are expected to adhere to approved routes, comply with speed limits and rest requirements, and follow operational safety procedures at all points, ensuring a disciplined, accountable transport system.
He explained that a TSMS typically includes risk assessment policies, incident reporting, preventive maintenance, driver training, fatigue management, emergency preparedness, and continuous improvement. By embedding safety into corporate governance structures, the Regulations shift responsibility from the driver alone to the company, ensuring systematic rather than reactive safety management.
Operators must demonstrate compliance through documentation, audits, and reporting, enabling EPRA and other regulators to identify systemic risks, enforce corrective actions, and benchmark industry performance. This data-driven approach allows safety interventions to be proactive, reducing the probability and severity of incidents before they escalate into disasters.
Eng. Kinyua emphasized that journey management requirements and safety management systems represent a paradigm shift in derisking petroleum transportation by road. Investigations into various accidents reveal the need for stakeholder collaboration to implement safety practices throughout the value chain.
He advocated for capacity building for individual petroleum transport companies and sector players to achieve enhanced surveillance. Consignees, often Oil Marketing Companies, must demand compliance from their logistics partners, while insurance companies should incentivize safe practices through strict policies.
Eng. Kinyua concluded by explaining that the Petroleum (Licensing of Petroleum Road Transportation Business) Regulations, 2025, provide a structured approach to enhancing safety, setting clear requirements for licensing, vehicle standards, driver competence, operational procedures, and compliance monitoring. “The duty of care is upon all of us – policymakers, Regulators, Oil Marketing Companies, petroleum transportation companies, other road users, and members of the public – to ensure effectiveness in the implementation of the Regulations. Bottom line: Do not ignore any unsafe practice on the road; it may affect you directly or indirectly,” he said.
