KEY POINTS
• Kenya and Rwanda have signed three agreements to establish a government-to-government framework for fuel imports.
• The partnership will improve Rwanda’s fuel security by increasing the use of Kenya’s Mombasa port, storage facilities, and pipeline infrastructure.
• The first fuel shipment under the new arrangement is expected to arrive at the Port of Mombasa between September 4 and September 6, 2026.
Kenya and Rwanda have signed a series of agreements to strengthen fuel imports and improve the security of petroleum supplies for the landlocked East African nation.
The agreements establish a government-to-government framework that will enable Rwanda to import more fuel through Kenya’s infrastructure, reducing logistical challenges and ensuring a more reliable supply of petroleum products.
The deal was signed on Monday and announced by the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) and Rwanda’s Ministry of Trade.
According to both parties, the partnership consists of three key agreements: a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a tripartite agreement, and a transport and storage agreement that will guide the implementation of the new fuel import arrangement.
Rwandan authorities said the agreement is designed to improve the continuity and security of petroleum supplies while making fuel imports more predictable and efficient.
The government also noted that the partnership would help eliminate logistical bottlenecks, enhance supply chain efficiency, and support Rwanda’s long-term economic growth and industrial development.
Under the agreement, designated institutions, including the Rwanda National Energy Company and the Kenya Pipeline Company, will work closely with relevant government agencies in both countries to implement the framework.
As a landlocked country, Rwanda relies entirely on overland transportation for its petroleum imports, mainly through the ports of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Mombasa in Kenya.
The new arrangement is expected to shift a larger share of Rwanda’s fuel imports to the Mombasa route, taking advantage of Kenya’s storage facilities, pipeline infrastructure, and transport network.
The Kenya Pipeline Company said the first shipment of fuel under the new agreement is expected to arrive at the Port of Mombasa between September 4 and September 6, marking the official commencement of operations under the partnership.
Officials believe the agreement will strengthen regional trade cooperation, improve energy security, and enhance the efficiency of fuel distribution between the two neighbouring countries.
The partnership also reflects broader efforts by East African nations to deepen regional integration through improved infrastructure, trade cooperation, and coordinated energy supply systems.
