Kenyan trader testifies on alleged fuel cargo discharge at Mombasa Port
In a powerful testimony before the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Anne Njeri Njoroge, the CEO of Anns Import and Export Enterprises Limited, detailed a disturbing incident involving the alleged illegal discharge of her fuel cargo at the Port of Mombasa.
Ms Njeri, a prominent trader in the oil and gas sector, recounted the events surrounding the arrival of the vessel MT HAIGUI in Kenyan waters on October 11 with 100,000 tonnes of en590 10PPM.
Their intended business strategy was to negotiate sales with potential buyers from Tanzania, Congo and South Sudan, taking advantage of the vessel’s proximity to the East African market.
However, her plans took an unexpected turn when, on November 4, she received news that the MT HAIGUI was being unloaded at the Kipevu terminal in Mombasa without her authorisation.
Upon learning of the unauthorised discharge of the vessel, Ms Njeri sought the intervention of various authorities, including the Port Police and the Minister for Energy and Petroleum, Mr Davis Chirchir.
Shockingly, she discovered that her cargo, supposedly owned by her company, had been procured by Galana Energies through a government-to-government (G-to-G) arrangement with Saudi ARAMCO.
Despite her attempts to stop the unauthorised discharge, Ms Njeri faced adversity.
Her use of legal means, including seeking court orders to restrain the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) from discharging her cargo, was allegedly ignored, leading to the subsequent illegal discharge.
Ms Njeri further revealed a harrowing experience of being unlawfully detained for four days without formal charges after seeking assistance from law enforcement agencies.
She stressed the need for justice, highlighting the financial losses she had suffered and the violation of her rights.
In her appeal to the Committee, Ms Njeri called for a thorough investigation into the matter and sought retribution for the unlawful possession and sale of her fuel cargo by Galana Energies.
“If MT HAIGUI belonged to G-to-G, why would it remain in the waters from October 11, 2023 to November 4, 2023? Previous G-to-G shipments can prove the turnaround times for such procurements and it is misleading to try to sneak in a private procurement into this framework,” she said.
Ms Njeri demanded compensation for the damage she had suffered, highlighting the violation of court orders and the misuse of security apparatus against her.
She urged the committee to investigate the contempt of court orders and its significant financial impact on innocent Kenyans.
The businesswoman remains committed to seeking justice for the alleged violations against her and her company.