The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) PLC confirms that, at approximately 9:00 a.m. on 9 November 2026, Line 5, which transports petroleum products from Mombasa to Nairobi, was punctured during third-party works near Tassia, off Outer Ring Road, in Embakasi Central Sub-County, Nairobi County.
Upon notification of the incident, KPC mobilised its technical and emergency response teams to the site to isolate the affected section, contain the product release and secure the area. Preliminary assessments indicate that a contractor engaged by the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) was undertaking geotechnical survey and drilling works at the location when the pipeline was inadvertently punctured.
Working alongside security and emergency response agencies, KPC has cordoned off the affected area and deployed additional personnel and equipment to support product containment, recovery, environmental management and public-safety measures. .
“Following the incident, KPC immediately shut down the affected pipeline section and deployed its Incident Management team, pipeline repair personnel and fire-safety teams to the site. The situation is under control,” said Mr Mwendwa. He added, “Investigations are underway, and the KRC drill rig operators are assisting the Kenya Police Service with the investigations, while the KP’s technical teams assess the extent of the damage and undertake the necessary repairs.”
Mombasa-Nairobi Pipeline Puncture Containment Measures
Kenya Pipeline Company PLC places the highest priority on the safety of host communities, protection of the environment and the integrity of its infrastructure. The Company remains fully committed to containing the product release, mitigating any resulting impact and restoring the affected area in accordance with applicable safety and environmental standards.
The Mobasa-Nairobi pipeline is 450km long and was commissioned in 2018 during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s second term in office. The line is 20 inches in diameter with an installed flow capacity of approximately 1,000 cubic metres per hour.
The impact, or the extent of impact on petroleum products delivery to Nairobi, has not yet been disclosed.
The Police guarding the site of the ruptured pipeline have asked residents to stay away as the risk of explosion remains high. This is after multiple social media accounts reported increasing masses at the site as police struggled to keep the site secure and free of human traffic.
ALSO READ: NCBA Investment Bank Contradicts Kenya Pipeline IPO Valuation
