The government has begun oil spill training as the country increases maritime operations, just months before full-fledged oil production.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Led by the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET), the Oil Spill Training took four days and is expected to prepare staff involved in both the first and last mile of oil in the country.

This training, according to LAPSSET, is focused on environmental protection, prevention, preparedness and response.

“This reflects our commitment to responsible infrastructure development and environmental stewardship,” Lamu Regional Office Liaison Officer Ali Shee stated.

📌 What You Need to Know

According to LAPSSET, the oil spill drill is supposed to help protect coastal ecosystems, safeguard community livelihoods, and ensure sustainable maritime activities. Moreover, it will help with economic development, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas such as Lamu.

Lamu Port is expected to become a cornerstone of oil exploration, which brings risks like cargo spills, which can occur during loading or unloading due to pipeline failures, valve malfunctions, or storage tank overflow.

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi announced on May 5, 2026, during a historic groundbreaking ceremony marking the official start of oil field development operations in Turkana County , that the government expects to begin production by December 2026.

"Kenya is on the brink of a new era of energy independence, with oil production from the South Lokichar Basin expected to begin before the end of the year,” Wandayi stated.

Kenya is pursuing the construction of the 890-kilometre crude oil pipeline between Turkana and Lamu to support oil exportation.

This followed the recent developments increasingly pointing to a scenario where both the Lokichar oil fields operator and the government might be considering other options for transporting the oil to the Kenyan coast for export.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke