India Becomes Key Fuel Supplier to Kenya Amid West Asia War
Indian refiners have stepped in to absorb the shortfall, with shipping records pointing to a steady rise in cargoes bound for Kenyan ports
Kenya is rapidly reshaping its fuel import map, leaning on India to fill a gap left by shrinking supplies from the Gulf.
According to the trade data from Kpler and EOA, during the first eight months of 2026, India has grown into one of Kenya's top sources for petrol, diesel, jet fuel and fuel oil, even as the East African nation's decades-old reliance on Gulf producers has crumbled.
The United Arab Emirates, Kenya's long-time dominant suppliers, was shipping roughly 90,000 barrels a day into the country in January. By August, that figure had come down to around 15,000 barrels a day.
Despite the disruptions in supply caused by West Asia war, Kenya's overall fuel intake has held up. Total petroleum product imports stood at about 200,000 barrels a day in July and 185,000 barrels a day in August. According to analysts, the crisis has triggered a reshuffling of suppliers rather than a genuine shortage.
Indian refiners have stepped in to absorb the shortfall, with shipping records pointing to a steady rise in cargoes bound for Kenyan ports; roughly 60,000 tonnes of gasoline moved from India to Kenya in April alone, according to Vortexa data.
Energy economist Anas Alhajji, citing Kpler figures, said India has effectively taken over as Kenya's supplier of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and fuel oil, displacing both the UAE and Saudi Arabia. India's fuel exports to Africa hit a record in July, up 66% from a year earlier.
Looking further ahead, the balance could shift again. Aliko Dangote's proposed $20 billion refinery and petrochemical complex in Kenya, still in the planning stages, could change the country's import needs altogether.
