KEPSA ENGAGES THE EAST AFRICA PETROLEUM TRANSPORTERS ASSOCIATION ON WAYS TO STREAMLINE EMERGING SECTORAL ISSUES

KEPSA CEO Ms. Carole Kariuki held a meeting with the East Africa Petroleum Transporters Association led by Chairman, Mr. Jack Chebett on 14^th March 2024 at KEPSA offices. The main focus of the meeting was to address issues in the sector and chart a way forward of resolution that would grow the sector and create a ripple effect towards economic development.  

The major issues highlighted during the meeting were;

• The high cost of compliance in comparison to Tanzania, notably was the 5,000-litre transport capacity margin that Tanzania has over Kenya, despite the longer distance that Kenyan tankers have to cover to supply the last mile, which presents as a competitive disadvantage to Kenyan Transporters.  
• The need for a review of the tariffs factoring in the current high cost of petroleum products which is a major constraint to businesses within the sector.  
• The non-recognition of operating licenses such as the fire certificate, branding license and distribution license across the various counties which significantly increases cost of operation.

Ms. Kariuki, in response to the highlighted issues, began by expressing her commitment to addressing the above issues for the growth of the sector. She emphasized the crucial role that transporters play in the value chain as growers of the economy and the necessity of a regulatory framework that incentivizes sustainability and profitability. In her conclusion, she encouraged a shift in advocacy to highlight the opportunities in the various sectors, even as the private sector further engages the government through the established Presidential Round Table partnership to address these pertinent sectoral issues.

Mr. Chebett, in his remarks, expressed his utmost appreciation to the KEPSA for the commitment towards creating a better business environment for private sector operations and further for creating dialogue platforms that would potentially resolve private sector pain points for sectoral growth.