Mohamed Jaffer is still in India, and detectives are waiting for him to arrive back in the country so they can record his statement over the fuel scandal. The Mombasa businessman who heads a wide network of companies tied to oil imports has become the latest name drawing attention in this growing investigation.
His three sons already sat down with investigators and gave their accounts. Mutara Mohamed Jaffer, Ali Abbas Jaffer, and Mohamed Husein Jaffer all face questions about their roles at One Petroleum Limited. That company sits right at the heart of the mess involving fuel brought in outside the official government-to-government deals. The sons left the sessions after providing details, but their father remains overseas for now.
News of Mohamed Jaffer staying put in India spread quickly through social media and local reports. Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have made it clear they want to hear directly from him before moving further. Although they have not yet issued an arrest warrant, the pressure is mounting as more details of the import puzzle are revealed.
This fuel scandal has already shaken the top ranks of the energy sector. Several senior officials, including the petroleum principal secretary and heads at the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority and Kenya Pipeline Company, stepped down after raids and questioning. Now the spotlight has shifted toward private players like the Jaffer family whose companies handle large volumes of fuel coming into Mombasa.
One petroleum and related firm stands accused of bringing in shipments at prices far higher than the rates set through official channels. During the recent tensions around Iran, some loads reportedly cost three times more than the government-arranged supplies. Investigators want to know how those deals happened, who approved them and whether any shortcuts or extra payments changed hands along the way.
Mohamed Jaffer built his reputation over decades in Mombasa as a major figure in petroleum logistics and grain handling. His group includes interests in cargo services and oil storage. For many years, his businesses operated smoothly through the port, but the current probe has revealed that some imports may have operated differently from the rest.
The sons who serve as directors in the family companies cooperated with the team of detectives. They answered questions about supply records, premiums charged and any links to the officials who recently left their posts. No charges have been filed against them yet, but their statements form part of a bigger file that now waits on the head of the family.
People in the business community watch this closely. Fuel costs affect everything from matatu fares to the price of bread, and many wonder if the investigation will lead to real changes at the pump or simply more headlines. Some drivers already feel the strain from earlier price warnings, and any new revelations about inflated import costs could push things higher.
Others point out that Mohamed Jaffer has faced scrutiny before in different matters involving taxes and land but nothing quite on this scale. His decision to remain in India has sparked talk about whether he is simply on a planned trip or buying time while lawyers sort things out. Detectives say they will record his account as soon as he lands, and they expect that to happen soon.
The whole situation adds another layer to the story former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua raised recently about seized cash and internal power plays in the oil trade. While his claims focused on one side of the deals, this new focus on private importers shows the probe stretches across both government offices and business houses.
Kenyans who follow these stories online have mixed feelings. Some cheer the idea that big names might finally face the same questions ordinary citizens get every day. Others worry the process drags on too long and prices keep rising while the real fixes stay out of reach. Either way the fuel scandal refuses to fade from daily conversation.
For now the investigators continue their work piecing together documents, bank trails and witness accounts. The Jaffer sons have done their part, but the missing piece sits with Mohamed Jaffer himself. His return from India could mark the next big step in a case that has already forced resignations and exposed cracks in how Kenya buys its fuel.
Business at the port goes on as usual, but whispers among traders suggest everyone is watching for the next update. If Mohamed Jaffer lands and sits with the detectives, the public will want to know what he says. Until then, the fuel scandal keeps turning with fresh questions about who really controls the flow of oil and at what cost to the rest of the country.
