The Joint Committee of Departmental Committee on Energy and Senate Standing Committee on Energy held a public participation forum at the Multi-Purpose County Hall, Eldoret, Uasin Gishu to gather views from stakeholders and general public to enrich the South Lokichar Field Development Plan (FDP) before crude oil transportation by December this year.
The joint committee led by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang and Narok East MP Aramat Lemanken also held a meeting with Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii who was represented by his deputy Evans Kapkea, Railway and Road agencies (KeNHA, KURA, KeRRA, KRC and NTSA) in the Governor’s office to deliberate on South Lokichar Field Development Plan
Senator Kisang noted that they are in Uasin Gishu in line with the constitution to engage Kenyans in constituencies or counties that will be impacted by the oil operation in regard to the proposed Field Development and Production Sharing (FDPs) for South Lokichar Basin Blocks T6 and T7. The oil that was discovered in 2012.
The counties include Turkana particularly Turkana Central, South and East sub-counties, which will be directly impacted, West Pokot where water will be drawn from Turkwel Dam. Other counties include Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Mombasa and Lamu as oil will be ferried by trucks to Lamu.
“We expect Kenyans to make vibrant contributions on issues that affect people here. It would be interesting to know, we expect 200 lorries every day in phase I and about 500 lorries in phase II transporting crude oil all the way to Mombasa. That means a lot of business, a lot of people and traffic,” alluded Senator Kisang.
He explained that the crude evacuation by road is due to generate high traffic in between Lokichar, Eldoret and Nakuru. This will place significant pressure on primary and feeder roads and can lead to accidents in terms of rollovers, oil spills, hazardous materials and others.
This development is expected to overload the Kenya pipeline storage; hence, the need for expanded infrastructure. Additionally, the system rail infrastructure will require rehabilitation including upgrading upgraded traffic, signalling and rail sightings and loading facilities to safely accommodate crude oil by the Kenya Railways.
MP Aramat indicated that the state will be focusing on key counties of Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia and West Pokot which is a corridor that will actually play a vital role in the commencement of oil evacuation from Lokichar all the way to Lamu.
He mentioned that the first phase will start in December 2026, where 100 trucks are expected on the routes all the way to their final destination while the second phase will start in 2032, where the oil will be transported through the rails.
Uasin Gishu NEMA Director Solomon Kihiu affirmed the authority’s commitment to ensure all parties involved in the evacuation of the crude oil will adhere to the environmental regulations in line with Kenya’s Environmental Management and Coordination Act, No. 8 of 1999, a comprehensive legal structure for environmental protection, management, and sustainable development.
KeNHA North Rift Regional Director Eng. Philemon Kipkoech highlighted that road expansion and development are ongoing along the corridor like the Kitale-Morpus road and others as he affirmed the agency’s commitment to ensure the roads have the required capacity to support the crude oil transport.
The members of the public, led by Uasin Gishu Civil Society Organisations Networks (CSONs) Benedine Kipruto and Chairperson of the Thematic Committee on Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Philip Barno, expressed hope on the expected positive impacts in terms of economic growth at county and national level, business expansion along the corridor, employment opportunities, especially for local youth, expanded and improved roads and the long-term vision of transforming Kenya toward first-world standards like Singapore.
Paul Kering suggested the setting up of a refinery in Eldoret, noting it is a transit corridor to East and Central African markets, and the development will boost the city’s status in terms of development and expansion while at the same time opening up investment opportunities and creating more employment for locals.
The residents called for a clear legal framework to ensure the international oil company gives back to the community through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives like setting up well-equipped social amenities like hospitals to address emergencies arising from the heavy oil trucks.
They also urged the government to come up with proper measures to support the business community to conduct business activities along the transport corridor in order to boost their livelihoods through income from the sale of their goods and services to truck operators.
By Ekuwam Sylvester and Fredrick Maritim
