Government Announces Fresh Changes to Petrol and Diesel Standards

Motorists in Kenya will continue using petrol and diesel with a maximum sulphur content of 50 milligrams per kilogram for another six months following a government decision to extend a temporary adjustment to fuel quality requirements.

Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui announced on Wednesday, November 11, that the revised limit would remain in force from November 2026 until April 2027.

The extension means the country will retain the relaxed fuel specification introduced in April this year, instead of immediately returning to the previous maximum limit of 10mg/kg.

Kinyanjui explained that the decision followed a request from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and a recommendation by the National Standards Council after an assessment of international fuel supply conditions.

The adjustment covers both automotive gas oil, commonly known as diesel, and premium motor spirit (petrol), under the applicable Kenyan standards.

According to the CS, uncertainty in the Middle East and interruptions to international petroleum supply chains have continued to affect the availability of fuel from different sources. He specifically pointed to developments around the Strait of Hormuz as part of the supply concerns informing the decision.

The government says retaining the temporary limit will allow Kenya to access a wider range of fuel supplies and reduce the risk of shortages.

Kinyanjui described the measure as temporary, adding that it would be reviewed after six months or earlier if international supply conditions improve.

Kenya first introduced the adjustment on April 30, 2026. Before that decision, the maximum permitted sulphur content in both petrol and diesel stood at 10mg/kg.

The latest announcement comes as the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) prepares to publish its next fuel price review. The upcoming prices will apply from November 15 to December 14, 2026.

The review is being closely watched by motorists following recent remarks by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi about the possible use of the fuel stabilisation fund to reduce the pressure of high pump prices.

However, the extension of the sulphur limit is a fuel quality measure and does not, by itself, announce a reduction in petrol or diesel prices.

The government has indicated that the six-month arrangement is intended to support reliable fuel supplies as international market conditions remain uncertain.

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