Kenya’s Ruto Courts Azerbaijan Oil Deal Amid Rising Fuel Protests at Home
BAKU, Azerbaijan – Kenyan President William Ruto is holding talks with Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR on a potential oil refinery partnership, even as rising fuel prices trigger fresh transport disruptions and street protests across Kenya.
President Ruto, currently in Baku to attend the World Urban Forum, met with SOCAR officials to explore cooperation in oil, gas, renewable energy, and possible investment in Kenya’s proposed East African oil refinery. The Kenyan leader hopes that tapping into Azerbaijan’s technical expertise will help reduce his country’s heavy reliance on imported refined fuel.
“We are looking at how SOCAR’s experience can support Kenya’s energy sector, particularly our ambition to build a regional refinery that lowers costs and secures supply,” a Kenyan official accompanying the president said.
The push for a refinery deal comes as Kenyan motorists and transport workers grow increasingly frustrated with surging pump prices. In recent days, minibus, taxi, and truck operators have staged strikes and road blockades in several towns and cities, disrupting commuter travel and the movement of goods. The protests have occasionally turned chaotic, with police firing tear gas at stone-throwing crowds in parts of Nairobi.
Kenya currently imports all its refined petroleum products, leaving it exposed to global price swings and currency fluctuations. The proposed East African oil refinery – a long-delayed project – is seen by the government as a strategic solution, though critics question the timeline and financing.
Ruto’s trip to Azerbaijan has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, who argue he should be at home addressing the cost-of-living crisis. The president has defended the visit as vital to securing long-term energy stability.
No binding agreement has been announced yet, but both sides described the talks as “productive.” SOCAR has not commented publicly on the scope of any potential investment.
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