Aug 15, 09:17 AM

Kenya Court Halts Kenya Pipeline Privatisation Ahead of September Hearing

Kenya’s High Court has issued conservatory orders stopping the government from moving ahead with plans to privatise Kenya Pipeline Company, one of the country’s critical state-owned infrastructure firms. Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning, the Privatisation Authority and other respondents may not sell, transfer or otherwise deal in any shares of the company until a legal challenge is resolved. The petition was brought by the Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK), which argues the proposed sale lacks adequate public consultation and could jeopardise national interests. The court instructed COFEK to serve all parties with the application and scheduled an open-court hearing for 5 September 2025. The decision effectively delays a Kenya Pipeline initial public offering that the Treasury had targeted for September 2025 as part of a broader privatisation drive aimed at raising funds and improving efficiency in state enterprises.