Kenya’s Senate Standing Committee on Energy has embarked on a fact-finding mission to assess the country’s readiness to tackle oil pollution threats in its territorial and inland waters.
Led by Chairperson Sen. Dr. Oburu Oginga, the committee on Friday visited the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) headquarters in Mombasa, where they were briefed on oil spill contingency plans, recent incidents, and rescue efforts, particularly in Lake Victoria.
“Our visit to KMA aimed to evaluate how well the agency is prepared to respond to oil spills, which present a major risk to both marine ecosystems and inland water bodies like Lake Victoria,” said Dr. Oburu.
He commended KMA’s professionalism and their detailed response to recent spill incidents, adding, “We were impressed by how efficiently those incidents were managed and contained.”
Dr. Oburu also lauded KMA’s efforts to enhance maritime safety on Lake Victoria, citing the recent establishment of a rescue centre in Kisumu and plans to expand with satellite stations across the lake region.
“This is a very exciting development that brings hope to countless Kenyans who rely on the lake for their livelihoods,” he noted.
KMA Director General CPA Omae Nyarandi informed the committee that Kenya’s oil spill response is anchored in a multi-agency framework , the National Oil Spill Response System , which coordinates responses when incidents occur.
“We shared with senators two recent cases and how they were swiftly contained,” Nyarandi said.
According to Michael Mbaru, KMA’s Assistant Director for Marine Environment Protection, one incident occurred near Berth Number 3 at the Port of Mombasa and another near the Likoni channel. Both were minor and effectively controlled using booms, skimmers, and chemical dispersants tailored to the type of oil spilled.
“For example, heavier fuel oils may require dispersants to break them down, while lighter spills can be contained with booms and recovered mechanically,” Mbaru explained.
He also highlighted a recent regional oil spill response drill hosted by Kenya, which attracted marine experts from across Africa.
“The drill helped test our national systems and pointed out areas needing improvement. We are currently developing an action plan to address those gaps,” he said.
The committee’s broader mandate during the mission includes:
Examining oil tanker routes and navigation risks;
Assessing pollution threats to the blue economy and marine biodiversity;
Reviewing Kenya’s collaboration with regional and international partners;
Evaluating national contingency plans for oil spill emergencies.
The senators later visited the Kenya Ports Authority for further discussions on maritime spill risks and port-level response mechanisms.