KENYA – Former Gulf Africa Petroleum Corporation CEO Dr. Macharia Irungu has been appointed the new Managing Director for Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC).

In a statement by Petroleum and Mining Cabinet Secretary John Munyes, Irungu beat 88 applicants who were eyeing the position and emerged winner out of the 8 that major contestants.

“This decision follows a rigorous recruitment process conducted by the KPC board of Directors, and which was observed throughout by officials from the Public Service Commission,” said part of the statement.

“The names of the 3 candidates who scored highest were thereafter forwarded to me for the final decision on who should be appointed the Managing Director,” Munyes added.

This brings to close the one-year search for a substantial managing director, a position that was last held by former MD Joe Sang, who prematurely exited in December last year.

Dr. Irungu brings on board over 28 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, 11 of which he has been at top management levels.

He is a member of American Chamber of Commerce of Kenya, Member of The Kenya Institute of Management and Member of the Institute of Directors (Kenya) as well as Managing Director at GAPCO Kenya Ltd.

He holds an undergraduate degree and a doctorate from the University of Nairobi and a graduate degree from Newport University.

The top job at KPC has been dogged by corruption allegations that are behind the exit of former bosses including Ex-MD Joe Sang’s predecessor Charles Tanui.

Kenya Pipeline Company is a state corporation that has the responsibility of transporting, storing and delivering petroleum products to the consumers of Kenya by its pipeline system and oil depot network.

Kenya Pipeline Company operates a pipeline system for transportation of refined petroleum products from Mombasa to Nairobi and western Kenya towns of Nakuru, Kisumu and Eldoret. 

Working closely with the National Oil Corporation of Kenya, KPC operates 5 storage and distribution depots for conventional petroleum products, located in Eldoret, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi and Nakuru. 

Depots are fed by domestic-manufactured product from the Kenya Petroleum Refinery near Nairobi and imported, refined petroleum product from the Kipevu Oil Storage Facility near Mombasa. 

The company operates two aviation fuel depots at Jomo Kenyatta Airport, Nairobi, and Moi International Airport, Mombasa