NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 14- High-level talks are currently ongoing, in a bid to stop the deportation of Rubis Chief Executive Officer Jean Christian, who has been accused of economic sabotage over the ongoing fuel crisis in the country.
Already, an order to deport him had been signed, but it remains unclear whether the government will rescind on its decision.
His work permit had also been revoked on Wednesday evening. The fuel crisis in the country has lasted for three weeks now.
If the talks fail, Christian will be deported to his country of origin, France.
The government has warned oil marketers against hoarding fuel, to the detriment of millions of Kenyans who have to hop from one station to the other, looking for fuel. This has worsened an already dire economic situation, with the cost of transport rapidly increasing.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) has since revealed that leading oil majors increased their fuel exports to neighbouring countries, leading to the ongoing shortage.
Rubis controls 8.6 percent of the local market, making it the third biggest marketer after TotalEnergies and Vivo Energies.
Its sister company, Gulf Energy, controls 2.7 percent of the market.
According to Epra, leading oil marketers have reduced their fuel allocations for Kenya in favour of the regional market where they can make more money.
According to reports, the companies have increased the share of fuel they sell to the neighbouring countries to over 60 percent against the traditional 40 percent.
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