This archive report was first published on 7 August 2019.
Kenya's first consignment of 200,000 barrels of oil, sold for $12 million, has sparked hopes of the country becoming a major oil producer and earning billions of dollars from the 'black gold.'
However, the reality of oil theft, a problem that has plagued other oil-producing countries, cannot be ignored. In Nigeria, for instance, an estimated 150,000 barrels of crude oil are stolen every day, with 120,000 barrels being shipped to international markets by ghost ships.
Kenya must implement mechanisms to protect the physical oil as well as its revenues. The President can ensure that state officers involved in crude oil are vetted and cleared by various agencies to prevent any potential scandals.
Other countries have attempted to solve this challenge through various methods, including violence, border trenches, and securocrats running the energy industry. However, these approaches have failed to yield results.
Kenya must learn from the experiences of other countries and take proactive measures to prevent oil theft. The country cannot afford to be complacent, as the risks of oil theft are real and can have devastating consequences.
As the saying goes, 'the captain can deceive himself and his crew, but he cannot deceive the rocks that lie in his way.' Kenya's President must ensure that the country's oil supply chain is secured by all means necessary to prevent the 'black gold' from becoming a 'black curse.'
