Gulf Fuel Risk: Kenya Condemns Houthi Strikes on Saudi Arabia as Supply Worries GrowGulf Fuel Risk: Kenya Condemns Houthi Strikes on Saudi Arabia as Supply Worries Grow
Key Highlights
- Musalia Mudavadi told Saudi Vice Minister Waleed Elkhereiji on 15 October that Kenya condemns the latest Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia, according to a Saudi Press Agency statement.
- Kenya relies on fuel imports from Saudi Arabia under a government-to-government arrangement, but the volumes, pricing and duration of that deal have not been published in the reports reviewed by Mwenendo.
- Reports put the toll across five Saudi airports at about 19 dead and 364 injured, figures attributed to the Saudi-led coalition that Mwenendo has not independently confirmed.
Kenya has condemned the latest Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia, a stance with economic weight because Nairobi relies on fuel imports from the kingdom under a government-to-government (G-to-G) arrangement.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi told Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji by telephone on Thursday 15 October that Kenya stands with Saudi Arabia, according to a Saudi Press Agency statement reported by Kenyans.co.ke. Mr Mudavadi also conveyed condolences to the families of victims and to the Saudi government and people.
What has been reported on the attacks
Reports attribute to official Saudi-led coalition figures about 19 deaths and 364 injuries across five Saudi airports, from Houthi missile and drone strikes over the past week. Reports also say Riyadh's King Khaled International Airport was hit repeatedly this month and suspended operations, that flights were disrupted at Jeddah and Dammam, and that Saudi Aramco's headquarters was damaged.
Mwenendo has not independently verified these accounts. The casualty figure reported for Riyadh alone, at least 14 dead and more than 300 injured, is not reconciled with the coalition total.
Kenya's exposure is not yet quantified
Neither the reports nor government statements seen by Mwenendo give the volumes, pricing or duration of the G-to-G deal, or Kenya's fuel stock cover. Without those figures, the scale of any supply risk cannot be measured.
What is on record is the pressure on costs. As Mwenendo earlier reported, EPRA raised Nairobi petrol by KSh 12.93 ($0.10) to KSh 226.96 ($1.75) a litre, citing Middle East tensions behind an 11% rise in September import costs. The International Energy Agency said on 14 October that on-land oil stocks fell to their lowest level since at least 2016.
The next EPRA review is the test
Mwenendo's earlier explainer on fuel pricing noted that global volatility does not automatically change pump prices every month. The current maximum prices run to 14 November, so the next EPRA review will show whether the Gulf conflict feeds through to motorists and transporters.
In Summary
- Who spoke to whom?
- Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi spoke to Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji.
- What did Kenya say?
- Kenya condemned the latest Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia and expressed solidarity, according to a Saudi Press Agency statement.
- When was the call?
- Thursday 15 October 2026.
- Where were the attacks?
- Reports cite five Saudi airports, including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, and Saudi Aramco's headquarters.
- Why does it matter for Kenya?
- Kenya relies on fuel imports from Saudi Arabia under a G-to-G arrangement, though its terms have not been published.
- How could it reach motorists?
- Through import costs and the next EPRA price review, as current maximum prices run to 14 November.