Nairobi, Kenya, Feb 10 – Vivo Energy has come out to clarify the issues that led to an incident where Nominated Senator Paul Njoroge brandish a gun and ostensibly threatened to shoot Vivo Energy employees.
A video, posted below, shows the Senator pointing his gun to Vivo MD Polycarp Igathe at a Shell petrol station in Naivasha, Nakuru County.
In a statement, Vivo Energy says it setting the record straight after, “misrepresentation of facts circulating in the social and mainstream media regarding the title and ownership of Shell Naivasha View service station situated along Naivasha-Nairobi Highway.”
Vivo says it leased the piece of land in Karai, Naivasha from a Mr. Charles Kamau Njenga, and constructed the infrastructure that includes dispensing equipment, tankage, signage, paving and drainage.
“We hire third-party entities to operate our Shell branded service stations on a day to day basis through Letters of Appointment. After six months’ probation the third party entities that satisfy our requirements and pass the probation are confirmed by way of entry into a Retail Business Agreement,” reads part of the statement.
Senator Njoroge was appointed the dealer of the petrol station on October 2016 on probationary basis, but Vivo says he breached the terms of the probation by not stocking the station for a prolonged period.
Speaking to Capital Business, Igathe said the petrol station had been operating without adequate working capital for three months, and that the station had no fuel for 7 days, leading to the termination of the contract.
READ: Nominated Senator Njoroge arrested after gun drama with Vivo boss
“The Senator had earlier threatened our sales manager and territory manager after we moved to debrand the station…this is something we usually do when a dealer breaches our rules,” says Igathe.
Igathe says he held a meeting with Njoroge at Hotel Pan-Afric on Sunday 5th February where Sen. Njoroge apologized and committed to inject Sh15 million, withdraw lawsuit against the company and cooperate fully with Vivo Energy as a dealer.
He also promised to write an apology letter for threatening Vivo staff and withdraw an intention to sue the company.
“He wrote on Monday 6th to say he has withdrawn the lawsuit and appealed to be reinstated as a dealer on probation for 90 days. He did not inject the capital of Sh15 million and the station remained dry without fuel.”
Igathe says he had to take the lead and go to Naivasha after his managers were threatened.
Vivo says business operations at the station will resume soon.
