Ann Njeri admits to importing Sh17bn oil without a license

Intriguing details have emerged of how Anne Njeri without the crucial oil import license and business history on fuel allegedly brought into the country Sh17 billion worth of oil.

Njeri, the woman behind the Sh17 billion oil cargo, on Wednesday struggled to convince Parliament that she is the owner of the contested multi-billion shilling oil consignment.

The government has maintained that the cargo that is subject to dispute, is owned by Galana Energies.

Appearing before the National Assembly energy committee chaired by Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka, the Ann’s Import and Export Enterprise Limited owner claimed she decided to save Kenya from the fuel shortage after watching in the news while in Dubai of the dry pumps in the country.

Without inquiring on what is needed to bring such large consignment into the country, Njeri straightaway allegedly paid Sh17 billion to a Russian oil supplier, despite the existing sanctions.

"It is my humble submission that I procured this fuel for sale into any country in East Africa. As an upstream trader, I do not need a license to deliver fuel to a customer who has a license to operate in their jurisdiction," she said.

But according to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) records, the contested consignment originated from Saudi Arabia.

The authority boss Captain William Ruto demonstrated to the committee the route of the ship, proving it was never from Russia.

“The consignees and their respective portions of the bulk cargo are listed in the manifest submitted by the ship’s agent. I can confirm that Ann’s Import and Export Enterprises Limited is not one of the manifested consignees,” Ruto said.

What is even more interesting is that the business woman could not give evidence of the payments.

“I have evidence (..of payment) but it is private and confidential, it should not be shared with the public, only the chairman can see it,” she said.

In a day of high drama, Njeri who was accompanied by her advocate, friends and sister in-law, refused to tell the committee whether she paid the Sh17 billion in cash or through bank.

She maintained that divulging such information would breach her privacy.

At some point, she even refused to disclose where she bought the oil from, not knowing some of her submissions had the name of the alleged supplier.

“Who did you buy your oil from in Russia, your documents are talking of Jedda and not even Russia as you claim,” Turkana Woman Representative Cecilia Asinyen said.

In her submission, the consignment was procured from SC Ushkuyu based in the Republic of Kazakhastan.

Worsening the situation, she presented what the committee claimed is a fake KRA certificate of compliance.

“I want to put to you that the tax compliant you have presented to the committee is fake. Instead of reading ‘compliance’ it is reading ‘tax complains’,” Musyoka said.

Most of the documents were equally faint and in fonts that MPs claimed was meant to frustrate their work.

“All your documents are faint, they are also in a font to frustrate us,” protested Royasambu MP Kamande Mwafrika

Musyoka said the committee will be inviting KRA boss to explain the anomaly in the compliance certificate after Njeri insisted she generated her copy from e-portal.

Appearing before the committee in the morning; Galana Energies CEO Antony Munyasya tabled evidence supporting his ownership claim including letters authorising him to import oil into the country.

According to Galana, the authorised agent of Aramco Trading Fujairah FZE, which is one of the three Saudi Arabia oil importers engaged in the government-to-government deal, the cargo was loaded on September 30, and landed in Mombasa on  October 11.

“We have also provided MT Hagui’s Master’s statement dated  November 10, 2023, confirming the authenticity of Bill of Lading Orders,” Munyasya said.

Njeri shot to the national limelight after claiming ownership of the 100,000 metric tonnes of fuel valued at Sh17 billion which government officials claim belongs to Galana Energies Limited.