Kenya and Rwanda have signed three agreements allowing Rwanda to import bulk refined petroleum products through Kenya under a Government to Government arrangement, marking a major step in regional trade and energy security.
The agreements, signed Monday at KASNEB Tower in Nairobi, comprise a Memorandum of Understanding, a Tripartite Agreement and a Transport and Storage Agreement. Together, they fully open the Northern Corridor for Rwanda’s petroleum imports.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry Antoine Marie Kajangwe witnessed the signing, alongside Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Acting Managing Director Pius Mwendwa, Rwanda National Energy Company (RNEC) Director Chris Twagirimana, and senior government officials from both countries.
The agreements conclude negotiations that began with bilateral talks in Kigali in November 2024 and received approval from Kenya’s Cabinet on June 16, 2026.
Volumes Set to Grow Tenfold
Under the new framework, Rwanda’s petroleum imports through the Northern Corridor are projected to increase more than tenfold, from approximately 42,000 cubic metres handled in 2025 to over 500,000 cubic metres annually.
The first shipment under the arrangement, designated RNEC 001/2026, is expected to arrive at the Port of Mombasa between September 4 and 6, 2026.
Wandayi said the agreements represent more than a legal framework, calling them a long term commitment by Kenya to guarantee Rwanda a secure and reliable supply of refined petroleum products.
“The volumes are set to grow more than tenfold. But the numbers are not the endgame; what this represents for our two great nations is deeper economic integration that will serve the East African Community and the Great Lakes Region for several decades to come,” he said.
Kajangwe described the agreements as a turning point for Rwanda’s energy sector, saying they would provide reliable, affordable and secure access to petroleum products while strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
“These agreements are the product of trust between our two governments, our institutions and our people. We look forward to welcoming the first cargo in September as the beginning of a long and prosperous journey together,” he said.
KPC’s Infrastructure and Commercial Terms
Mwendwa said the deal marks the culmination of more than a decade of efforts to regain Rwanda’s fuel market, noting Kenya had previously supplied less than 10 percent of the country’s petroleum demand.
He said KPC has invested heavily in infrastructure to support the expanded trade, including 1.13 billion litres of petroleum storage capacity, a 1,342 kilometre pipeline network across Kenya, and the Kisumu Oil Jetty on Lake Victoria. He added that the Eldoret to Kampala pipeline corridor could eventually extend to Kigali as regional integration advances.
To strengthen the competitiveness of the new arrangement, Mwendwa announced that KPC’s Board approved extending the storage period for Rwanda bound petrol and diesel cargoes from 35 days to 90 days for an initial two year period.
He also noted that Rwanda is a shareholder in KPC, having invested in the company’s Initial Public Offering, and said the partnership would generate commercial benefits for both countries.
Framework Built by Joint Technical Committee
The agreements were developed by a Joint Technical Committee comprising officials from Kenya’s State Department for Petroleum, KPC, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Rwanda’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, and RNEC.
RNEC has since registered in Kenya and been licensed by EPRA to import, export and wholesale petroleum products, completing the legal and regulatory framework required for the new trade arrangement.
Both governments expressed confidence that the partnership would strengthen regional trade by enabling Rwanda to expand fuel supplies to neighbouring towns and other landlocked markets, increasing business opportunities and commercial returns across the region.
