EPRA's Top Job Vacant
Kenya's Energy Regulator EPRA Opens Recruitment for New Director General Post
Key Points
Vacancy reference VA/1/8/2026 is included in the recruitment notice for EPRA's Director General position.
Joseph Oketch was appointed Acting Director General in April after the resignation of Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, which followed a fuel-importation controversy worth over Ksh4 billion and involved other officials Mohamed Liban and Joe Sang.
The Director General will also serve as EPRA's Chief Executive Officer and Secretary to the Board, making the role the top executive and board liaison.
EPRA's mandate includes licensing players, setting tariffs, and enforcing safety and quality standards to protect consumers across electricity, petroleum, and renewables.
EPRA was established under the Energy Act 2019, reflecting its statutory basis for regulating Kenya's energy sector.
Kenya's energy regulator has opened a formal search for a new Director General, four months after Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria resigned amid a fuel-importation scandal worth over Ksh4 billion, according to Tuko. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) posted vacancy reference VA/1/8/2026, with applications closing September 9, 2026.
Joseph Oketch has been serving as Acting Director General since April, Streamline Feed reported. The new hire will take on a three-year contract and lead regulation of Kenya's entire energy sector — from electricity and petroleum to renewable energy.
Kiptoo's Resignation Triggered a Leadership Vacuum
Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria stepped down after he was arrested in connection with a Ksh4 billion fuel-importation controversy, Pulse reported. Two other officials — Mohamed Liban and Joe Sang — were also caught up in the scandal. The departure left EPRA without a substantive chief for months.
Oketch was named Acting Director General in April to keep the regulator running. But EPRA has now moved to fill the seat permanently, signaling a push to restore stability at the top of Kenya's most powerful energy watchdog.
Who Can Apply and What the Job Demands
Candidates must be Kenyan citizens with a bachelor's degree in engineering, physical sciences, law, finance, economics, or energy, according to Nairobi Leo. A master's degree is an added advantage. Applicants also need at least seven years of senior management experience, including two years specifically in petroleum or energy.
Professional qualifications are required, and candidates must meet integrity standards set under Chapter Six of Kenya's Constitution. The Director General will also serve as EPRA's Chief Executive Officer and Secretary to the Board — making it the single most powerful role at the authority, People Daily noted.
EPRA's Broad Mandate Puts Heavy Pressure on the Role
The Director General will oversee licensing, tariff-setting, and safety enforcement across electricity, petroleum, and renewables. That covers everything from power generation and transmission to fuel importation, refining, and storage. EPRA was created under the Energy Act 2019, giving it sweeping statutory powers, Tuko reported.
Consumer protection is central to the role. EPRA sets the rules that govern what Kenyans pay for fuel and electricity. With energy costs a hot-button issue, the next Director General will face immediate scrutiny from the public and the government alike.
September Deadline Marks EPRA's Bid to Move On
The September 9, 2026 deadline gives candidates roughly six weeks to submit applications, Streamline Feed reported. EPRA has framed the recruitment as part of a broader effort to stabilize leadership after a turbulent period marked by arrests, resignations, and a high-profile financial scandal.
The three-year contract on offer reflects the authority's need for continuity. Whoever lands the role inherits a regulator under pressure — and a sector where policy decisions ripple directly into household energy bills across Kenya.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativePublishers
11
Articles
0
Reach
11
