Kenya will keep its relaxed sulphur limits for petrol and diesel for a further six months, the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry announced on 11 November 2026.
The extension was approved after the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum made a request and the National Standards Council recommended it, according to a ministry press release. The measure is intended to broaden the range of fuel Kenya can import and reduce the risk of supply shortages.
Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said the decision followed a technical assessment of strains on global petroleum supply chains, the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
The current maximum allowable sulphur content in automotive gas oil and premium motor spirit is 50mg/kg. The applicable standards are KS EAS 177:2025 for automotive gas oil and KS EAS 158:2025 for premium motor spirit.
The government described the adjustment as strictly temporary. It will be reviewed at the end of the six-month period, or sooner should global supply conditions stabilise. No permanent change to fuel quality standards is proposed, and the measure will lapse or be revisited once supply conditions allow a return to the standard limits.
The ministry said the objective is to maintain uninterrupted fuel availability and protect economic stability.
