The Senate Standing Committee on Energy on Friday conducted a fact-finding mission in Mombasa to evaluate Kenya’s preparedness in managing oil pollution risks in its territorial waters and inland water bodies.
Led by Chairperson Sen. Dr. Oburu Odinga, the committee visited the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) headquarters where they were briefed on oil spill contingency measures, recent incidents, and ongoing rescue operations in Lake Victoria.
“Our visit to KMA was to assess their preparedness to handle oil spills, which pose a significant threat to marine life and to inland waters like Lake Victoria,” said Dr. Oburu.
“We were impressed by the professionalism of the KMA team and the details they shared on how recent spills were managed and contained,” he added.
Dr. Oburu also highlighted KMA’s role in enhancing maritime safety on Lake Victoria, including the establishment of a major rescue centre in Kisumu and plans for satellite stations across the lake region.
“This is a very exciting development. It offers hope to many Kenyans who depend on the lake for their livelihoods,” he said.
KMA Director General CPA Omae Nyarandi told the committee that Kenya’s oil spill preparedness is guided by a multi-agency National Oil Spill Response System, which activates in the event of an incident.
“We shared with the senators two recent spill incidents and how they were effectively contained,” he said.
Michael Mbaru, KMA’s Assistant Director for Marine Environment Protection, provided details of the recent minor oil spills, one near Berth Number 3 at the Port of Mombasa and another near the Likoni channel. He explained that the spills were quickly contained using booms and chemical dispersants, depending on the type of oil involved.
“Each response is tailored to the spill type. Heavy fuel oil might require dispersants to break it down, while lighter spills are often contained with booms and recovered using skimmers,” said Mbaru.
He also noted that Kenya recently hosted a regional oil spill response drill, which drew experts from across the continent.
“The exercise tested our national systems and identified areas for improvement. We are now working on an action plan to address those gaps,” Mbaru added.
The Senate committee’s broader mission includes:
– Assessing oil tanker navigation routes;
– Evaluating pollution threats to the blue economy and marine ecosystems;
– Reviewing regional and international cooperation frameworks;
– Inspecting contingency planning for oil spill emergencies.
The delegation also visited the Kenya Ports Authority for further engagements on maritime oil spill risks and port-level response capacity.