Shell Kenya rebrands to Vivo Energy Kenya, as the business changes ownership from Royal Dutch Shell to Vitol Holding BV and Helios Investment. This transfer in ownership will also see Shell Chairman Jimmy Mugerwa step down.

The change in name follows similar moves in Morocco, Senegal, Cape Verde, Tunisia, etc.

Unlike what we had reported earlier, there are no plans to rebrand Shell Kenya Petrol stations as Vivo Energy. Vivo Energy Kenya will continue to operate the shell petrol stations under the Shell brand and will continue to be marketing Shell branded fuels and lubricants to customers in Kenya. Vivo Energy is a corporate brand and not a consumer brand, so we would like to clarify that.

Royal Dutch Shell exit from the Kenyan market joins a growing list of energy companies such as BP, Chevron, Mobil and Agip that have pulled out of Kenya because of the difficult business environment.

Royal Dutch Shell will be leaving behind a large market share when it exits Kenya. Shell controlled 17.8 per cent of Kenyan market, behind Total’s 23.3 per cent and KenolKobil’s 25 per cent and ahead of Oil Libya’s 8.8 per cent, National Oil Corp of Kenya 5.6 per cent and Bakri’s 3.1 per cent.

Welcome Vivo Energy!

(UPDATE: Unlike what we had reported earlier, sources from Vivo Energy have informed us that Vivo Energy has no plans to rebrand Shell Kenya petrol stations as Vivo Energy.  Change in brand is subject to legal and regulatory approval. Vivo Energy Kenya will continue to operate Shell petrol stations under the Shell brand and will continue to market Shell branded fuels and lubricants to customers in Kenya.)