Kenya’s petroleum retail market remains highly concentrated, with the country’s 20 largest oil marketing companies (OMCs) accounting for nearly 85 per cent of total fuel sales, according to the latest report by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
The 2026 Energy and Petroleum Statistics Report shows that Vivo Energy Kenya Limited, which operates the Shell brand in Kenya, retained the largest share of the downstream petroleum market at 19.70 per cent.
Vivo Energy recorded sales of 1,246,943.33 cubic metres (m³) out of the total market volume of 6,330,507.90 m³.
TotalEnergies Marketing Kenya Plc ranked second with a 14.12 per cent market share, while Rubis Energy Kenya Plc followed closely with 14.04 per cent.
Together, the three leading oil marketers controlled 47.86 per cent of Kenya’s total petroleum sales, despite the presence of 154 registered OMCs in the country.
Stabex among Kenya’s leading oil marketers
Stabex International Ltd emerged as one of the notable mid-sized players, securing the eighth-largest market share at 2.84 per cent.
The company ranked ahead of Vitalac International Limited at 2.41 per cent and Petro Oil Kenya Limited at 2.39 per cent.
Stabex’s position places it among the 20 largest OMCs in Kenya, highlighting the growing role of mid-tier companies in the country’s competitive petroleum industry.
The company has also established a presence in specialised petroleum segments, including aviation fuel, allowing it to compete beyond the conventional retail fuel market.
Tight Competition Among Mid-tier OMCs
The market becomes considerably more fragmented below the three dominant players.
Ola Energy Kenya Limited ranked fourth with a 3.56 per cent market share, followed by Hass Petroleum Kenya Limited at 3.44 per cent and Galana Energies Limited at 3.35 per cent.
Be Energy Limited occupied seventh position with 3.11 per cent, while Stabex followed at 2.84 per cent.
Other companies among the top 20 included Kengas Kenya Limited at 2.12 per cent, Lake Oil Limited at 1.88 per cent, Astrol Petroleum Company Limited at 1.74 per cent, Towba Petroleum Company Limited and Aftah Petroleum (K) Ltd at 1.66 per cent each.
Dalbit Petroleum Limited held 1.64 per cent, E3 Energy Kenya Limited 1.55 per cent, Tosha Petroleum (Kenya) Limited 1.53 per cent, Gulf Energy Holdings Limited 1.13 per cent and Fossil Supplies Limited 1.10 per cent.
Top 20 OMCs Dominate Fuel Sales
EPRA’s figures underline the concentration of Kenya’s downstream petroleum sector.
The top 20 oil marketing companies collectively accounted for 84.97 per cent of total petroleum sales, leaving the remaining 134 companies to compete for the other 15.03 per cent.
The concentration means smaller OMCs face a challenging operating environment, with competition extending beyond fuel prices to factors such as retail station networks, supply reliability, customer loyalty, location and access to specialised markets.
Some smaller companies have therefore pursued niche markets or concentrated their operations in particular geographical areas rather than competing directly with the largest multinational and established local marketers across the entire country.
Petroleum Transport Business
EPRA also outlined requirements for companies seeking to participate in Kenya’s petroleum road transportation business.
The regulatory framework includes licensing requirements, applicable fees and permits for petroleum tankers and drivers, among other compliance obligations.
The economics of petroleum transportation can vary significantly depending on the distance travelled, tanker capacity, fuel consumption, maintenance, driver costs and other operating expenses.
Under the regulated margin formula cited in the report, a standard tanker transporting 30,000 litres over a 200-kilometre journey could generate a gross amount of approximately KSh115,680.
However, the gross amount does not represent the operator’s final profit, as transporters must meet several operational and regulatory costs.
The latest EPRA statistics provide an overview of an industry where a relatively small number of major companies control most petroleum sales, while dozens of smaller OMCs compete for the remaining share through regional networks and specialised petroleum markets.
