DEPORTED RUBIS KENYA CEO BERGERON RETURNS AFTER RUTO’S WIN

NAIROBI - Deported Rubis Energy Kenya CEO JeanChristian Bergeron made a quiet return to Kenya and resumed his executive role at the leading oil marketer weeks after the swearing-in of President William Ruto.

Sources said Bergeron, popularly known as JPB in the local oil industry, jetted back to Nairobi late October, ending his forced sixmonth absence from Kenya.

The State Directorate of Immigration revoked Bergeron’s work permit and ordered him to leave Kenya immediately on the night of April 14, 2022 following weeks of fuel shortages that had caused a public outcry.

The Rubis Kenya CEO has maintained a low profile since his return, infrequently visiting the firm’s headquarters in Nairobi while keeping off public engagements hosted by the industry lobby, the Petroleum Institute of East Africa, said the sources.

“I can confirm that Bergeron is in the country. My job is to regulate companies and not individuals,” Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority Director-General Daniel Kiptoo said on Monday.

Bergeron’s deportation followed a fuel crisis that led to long queues at service stations and a spike in petrol and diesel prices, triggering a government clampdown.

Bergeron has led the company for four years. The move to send the Frenchman parking was linked to the company’s involvement in selling more petroleum products in the neighbouring countries, which the Kenyan government had blamed for the shortage.

Official data showed that leading oil marketers reduced their fuel allocations for Kenya in favour of the regional market where they could make more money.

Rubis goaded the State over its claims of deporting Bergeron to France, saying the CEO had travelled to Paris to brief the head office on Kenya’s fuel crisis.

“JPB has been in the country but he is working away from the media limelight. He jetted back into the country in October last year,” said a source familiar with goings on at Rubis Kenya.

His return came weeks after the swearing-in of Ruto on September 13, 2022. President Ruto replaced Uhuru Kenyatta, and his administration has since reversed a number of executive orders issued by the previous government.

- BUSINESS DAILY.