This archive report was first published on 30 June 2019.
June 30, 2019, marked a significant day in Kenya's oil exploration saga. While Deputy President William Ruto was busy spotting potential assassins in a gathering of Mt Kenya region leaders, a tribunal temporarily halted the Lamu coal project, citing a lack of transparency in the National Environmental Management Authority's (Nema) licensing process.
Meanwhile, Petroleum CS John Munyes dismissed journalists' requests for details of a contract signed between the Kenya government and several oil firms, led by Tullow Oil, in the Turkana region. The contract, worth over Sh300 billion ($3 billion), is shrouded in secrecy, with Munyes claiming that the 'Heads of Terms' have 'taken good care of Kenyans.'
However, this statement has sparked outrage among citizens, who are demanding to know the details of the contract. Article 35 of the Constitution explicitly states that every citizen has the right of access to information held by the state. The secrecy surrounding this deal is even more ominous, given that it took 15 months to negotiate.
The tribunal's decision to halt the Lamu coal project serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency in large-scale projects. By omitting engineering plans and other key facts from public participation, Nema failed to fully apprise the public of the project's implications, which could have far-reaching deleterious effects on the environment and residents' health.
CS Munyes should table the Head of Terms signed to allow oil exploration and exploitation in the Turkana region. Claiming that these are state secrets is an extreme display of ignorance and patronizing arrogance.
— Tom Mshindi is the former editor-in-chief of the Nation Group and is now consulting.
