Two former Kenya Pipeline employees, truck driver jailed for fuel theft

Two former Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) employees have been ordered to pay a fine of Ksh.10 million each, or face a 9-year prison sentence, after being found guilty of stealing petroleum products, among other offenses.

Reuben Andolo Aseneka, a former KPC loading island operator and Mutai Micah, a former KPC ICT employee, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit a felony, theft of petroleum products, illegal tampering with fuel monitoring systems and unauthorized access to the company’s computer systems.

They were sentenced at the Kisumu Law Courts on Tuesday alongside Joseph Mbugua Maina, a truck driver, who was ordered to pay a fine of Ksh.5.3 million or serve 7 years in prison.

“In Count one, three accused persons were sentenced to one year imprisonment or pay a fine of ksh.100,000 each for the offence of conspiracy to commit a felony. They conspired to steal the MSP, which had been loaded onto a road tanker,” said the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

“The Court further sentenced all accused persons to serve another 1-year imprisonment or pay a fine of Ksh.200,000 each for theft of petroleum products.”

In the third count, Aseneka and Mutai were both sentenced to pay a fine of Ksh.10 million each or serve 5 years in prison for illegally tampering with KPC's fuel monitoring systems (Fuelfacs and Acculoads).

“In Counts 4 and 5, Mutai and Aseneka were sentenced to serve 2 years or pay a fine of Ksh.200,000 each for unauthorized access to KPC’s computer systems, specifically the Fuelfacs systems," said the ODPP.

"While in Count 6, Mbugua was fined Ksh.5 million or serve 5 years imprisonment."