The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) has raised fresh concerns about the security of petroleum transportation infrastructure after uncovering an illegal connection installed on one of its pipelines in Mombasa County.

The attempted theft was detected on Monday, November 2, 2026, when the company’s security and pipeline maintenance teams came across an unauthorised connection along a supply line linking Pumping Station 14 to Pumping Station 15.

The discovery prompted an emergency response by KPC officers, who moved to secure the affected section before petroleum products could be siphoned from the pipeline.

Kenya Pipeline subsequently reported the incident to Chaani Police Station, where the matter was handed over to the relevant authorities for investigation.

The company confirmed that the attempted theft did not result in any loss of petroleum products. Its monitoring teams detected the illegal connection in time and secured the scene before any fuel could be stolen.

KPC General Manager for Human Resource and Administration Dinah Kirwa said the company’s officers had successfully stopped the criminal activity and handed the matter over to the authorities.

“Our officers have successfully managed to foil a criminal act which is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities,” Kirwa said.

Specialist police teams have since commenced investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the illegal connection and identify the individuals responsible.

The incident has drawn attention to the security of KPC’s extensive pipeline network, which plays a central role in transporting petroleum products from the Port of Mombasa to different parts of the country.

The company operates approximately 1,342 kilometres of pipelines connecting the coastal region to inland markets. Its infrastructure also includes storage facilities, pumping stations and loading facilities used to move and distribute petroleum products.

The network has the capacity to handle approximately 14 billion litres of petroleum products annually, making it an important part of Kenya’s fuel supply chain.

The pipeline system transports different petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, illuminating kerosene and aviation fuel. These products serve different sectors of the economy, including transport, manufacturing, aviation and household energy consumption.

Unlike road transportation, which relies on fuel tankers moving between depots and destinations, pipelines provide a continuous transportation system between major petroleum facilities. The infrastructure also reduces the need to transport large volumes of fuel by road, making its security important to the wider distribution network.

An unauthorised connection to such infrastructure presents several risks beyond the possibility of losing petroleum products. Interfering with a petroleum pipeline can compromise its structural integrity, potentially resulting in leaks and exposing surrounding areas to fire and other safety hazards.

KPC has invested in technological and physical security measures to monitor its infrastructure and identify suspicious activities. The company says these include security surveillance, leak detection technology and other monitoring equipment deployed across its network.

The systems are designed to help officers identify potential threats, detect irregularities and respond to incidents before they develop into major operational problems.

However, the latest incident demonstrates the continued threat posed by illegal interference with petroleum transportation infrastructure. The discovery of an unauthorised connection highlights the need for regular inspections and effective surveillance along pipeline routes.

The investigation is expected to establish how the connection was installed, who was involved and whether there were other individuals behind the attempted theft.

KPC has not publicly disclosed the identities of any suspects, whether arrests have been made or the precise method used to establish the illegal connection.

Police investigations will therefore be important in establishing the circumstances of the incident and determining whether further action is required to strengthen security around the affected section of the pipeline.

The incident comes as KPC continues to maintain infrastructure responsible for transporting petroleum products from the coast to various inland destinations. Protecting the network remains important in ensuring that fuel transportation and distribution operations continue without interruptions.

For now, the company has confirmed that its intervention prevented the attempted theft from resulting in any petroleum product losses, as investigations into the incident continue.