KPC Shuts Down Mombasa-Nairobi Pipeline After Accidental Puncture Near Tassia

Fuel transportation to Nairobi was disrupted on Monday after the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) shut down a section of its Mombasa-Nairobi petroleum pipeline following an accidental puncture during drilling works near Tassia, off Outer Ring Road in Embakasi.

The incident occurred at approximately 9am and affected Line 5, the 20-inch pipeline commissioned in 2018 that transports petroleum products from Mombasa to Nairobi. KPC said the damage was caused by a contractor carrying out geotechnical survey and drilling works on behalf of the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC).

KPC immediately shut down the affected section and deployed its Incident Management team, pipeline repair personnel and fire-safety crews to the site. The company stated that the situation was under control. Emergency teams worked with security and response agencies to cordon off the area, contain the fuel leak, recover product and manage any environmental impact.

KPC Corporate Communications Manager Titus Mwendwa confirmed that investigations had been opened to establish the circumstances of the incident. The KRC drill-rig operators were assisting the Kenya Police Service, while KPC technical teams assessed the extent of the damage and prepared repairs.

The 450-kilometre Line 5 has an installed flow capacity of about 1,000 cubic metres per hour and forms a critical link in Kenya’s fuel supply chain to the capital and inland markets. The temporary shutdown is expected to affect scheduled deliveries until repairs are completed and the line is cleared for safe operation.

KPC emphasised that its emergency response systems enabled rapid containment. No further details on the volume of product lost or the expected restoration timeline had been released by late Monday. Authorities continued to monitor the site as repair works progressed.

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