Kenya and Rwanda have solidified their economic ties by signing three landmark agreements that will allow Rwanda to import bulk refined petroleum products through Kenya under a Government-to-Government (G2G) framework. The strategic deal, signed on Monday at the KASNEB Tower in Nairobi, marks a definitive shift in regional energy security and effectively reopens Kenya’s Northern Corridor for Rwanda’s energy logistics. The comprehensive framework is composed of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a Tripartite Agreement (TPA), and a Transport and Storage Agreement (TSA).
The high-profile signing ceremony was witnessed by key dignitaries, including Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry Antoine-Marie Kajangwe, Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Acting Managing Director Pius Mwendwa, and Rwanda National Energy Company (RNEC) Director Chris Twagirimana. This event concludes a rigorous negotiation process that commenced with bilateral talks in Kigali in November 2024 and recently received formal approval from the Kenyan Cabinet on June 16, 2026.
Under this newly minted framework, Rwanda’s petroleum imports via the Northern Corridor are projected to witness an exponential, tenfold increase. The volume is expected to skyrocket from the estimated 42,000 cubic metres handled in 2025 to over 500,000 cubic metres annually. Preparations are already underway for the inaugural shipment under this arrangement, designated as cargo RNEC 001/2026, which is scheduled to dock at the Port of Mombasa between September 4 and 6, 2026.
Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi lauded the partnership, emphasizing that the agreements signify a long-term commitment to guaranteeing Rwanda a secure and reliable energy supply. He noted that while the volume growth is staggering, the ultimate achievement lies in the deeper economic integration it offers the East African Community (EAC) and the Great Lakes Region. Echoing these sentiments, Minister Antoine-Marie Kajangwe described the pact as a turning point that leverages bilateral trust to provide Rwandans with affordable and secure access to petroleum products.
From an infrastructural standpoint, KPC’s Pius Mwendwa highlighted that Kenya had previously secured less than 10 percent of Rwanda’s fuel market, making this deal a major victory after a decade of efforts. To support this massive trade expansion, KPC is leveraging its 1.13-billion-litre storage capacity, a 1,342-kilometre pipeline network, and the Kisumu Oil Jetty, with future plans to potentially extend the Eldoret–Kampala pipeline corridor directly to Kigali. To maximize competitiveness, KPC has extended the storage grace period for Rwanda-bound products from 35 to 90 days. Backed by RNEC’s new licensing under Kenya’s regulatory body, EPRA, both nations are confident this partnership will stimulate commerce well beyond their borders, serving multiple landlocked markets in the region.
