Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) has foiled an attempt to siphon petroleum products through an illegal connection on a pipeline linking two pumping stations in Mombasa County, with the incident detected during routine surveillance on Monday, November 2.
The company said its security and pipeline maintenance teams discovered the unauthorised connection on the pipeline linking Pumping Station 14 to Pumping Station 15 before any petroleum products were lost.
KPC officers secured the site and reported the incident to Chaani Police Station, with specialist police teams now investigating the attempted theft.
“Our gallant officers have successfully managed to foil a criminal act which is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities,” said KPC General Manager for Human Resource and Administration Dinah Kirwa.
Ms Kirwa said the illegal connection did not result in any product loss because surveillance teams detected and secured the site promptly.
The incident highlights the security risks facing petroleum transportation infrastructure, where illegal connections can expose pipelines to product theft, operational disruptions and potential environmental damage
KPC operates a 1,342-kilometre pipeline network across Kenya, supported by surveillance systems, leak detection technology and physical security measures.
The firm says its monitoring systems are designed to detect potential threats to pipeline infrastructure in real time, while its safety protocols are intended to reduce operational and environmental risks.
The company did not disclose how the illegal connection was installed, how long it had been in place or whether any suspects had been arrested by the time of the announcement.
