The High Court in Nairobi has temporarily blocked the government’s move to privatise the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), handing a setback to President William Ruto’s administration just weeks after Cabinet approved the sale.
In a ruling delivered Friday morning, Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued a conservatory order restraining the National Treasury from offering for sale, allocating, disposing of, transferring, or dealing with any shares of KPC until a petition challenging the process is heard and determined.
“Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the applicant’s notice of motion dated 14/08/2025, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued restraining the respondents from offering for sale any shares of the Kenya Pipeline Company,” the judge ordered.
The court directed the petitioners to serve the respondents and interested parties ahead of the hearing. Justice Mwamuye further instructed that all responses to the application and petition be filed by close of business on August 22, 2025, with any rejoinders due by August 29, 2025.
The ruling comes just two weeks after a July 26 Cabinet dispatch announced the decision to privatise KPC, saying the move would reduce the state’s role in running businesses and allow the private sector to “drive growth, efficiency, and innovation.”
The petition challenging the sale will now proceed to a full hearing, where the court will decide whether the government can go ahead with the planned privatisation.
