The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on Monday announced that it had closed 14 petrol stations and fined three others for selling adulterated fuel.

In a notice, the authority indicated that the petrol stations had been flagged during a three-month crackdown that lasted between July and September this year.

"The Authority undertakes a program of continuous monitoring of the quality of petroleum motor fuels on sale, transport, and storage throughout the country," read the notice in part

"During the period July - September 2024, a total of 5,854 tests were conducted at 1,321 petroleum sites. From the tests, 1,304 (98.71%) of the sites were found to be compliant. However, tests from Seventeen, 17 (1.29%) sites turned out to be non-compliant."

The 14 petrol stations shut down in the crackdown are Safari Oil Service Station in Kamalat, Prijam Filling Station in Naromoru, Tawa Filling Station in Tawa, Lengut Filling Station in Lengut, Re-Fresh Up Energy Filling Station in Talket, Green Field Service Station in Kanamai and Sikhendu Filling Station in Sikhendu.

Others are Chombo Filling Station in Chepkorio, Birgen Filling Station in Mulot, Top Energy Filling Station in Ombeyi Market, Robinson Filling Station in Labuiywo, Murinya Filling Station in Murinya, Murathi Elijah Filling Station in Kipkona and Suntone Service Station in Busia.

Mari Filling Station in Gathange on the other hand was reopened after paying taxes and penalties amounting to Ksh115,990 while Home Depo Filling Station in Kiminini was reopened after paying taxes and penalties amounting to Ksh152,306.

The two stations were found selling diesel meant for export.

Bendera Service Station in Kapenguria, on the other hand, was reopened after upgrading of product and paying taxes and penalties amounting to Ksh304,806.

The station was found offering for sale super petrol meant for export and contaminated with domestic kerosene.

The other 14 petrol stations that were shut down were found either offering for sale super petrol containing high sulphur or selling diesel adulterated with domestic kerosene.

Meanwhile, between January and March 2024, EPRA listed 15 petrol stations that were selling adulterated fuel to motorists. The affected stations were in Machakos, Kakamega, Homa Bay, Kisumu, and Meru.