This archive report was first published on 25 August 2019.
On Monday, President Kenyatta is set to flag off Kenya's maiden consignment of crude oil at the port of Mombasa, a significant milestone in the country's oil export journey.
According to the government, the 200,000 barrels of crude oil were purchased by Chinese company ChemChina UK Limited, which won the tender to buy Kenya's first oil batch at Sh1.2 billion.
ChemChina UK Limited was selected following a competitive tender process, with an invitation to bid issued on 26th July 2019, as stated in the government's announcement.
President Kenyatta had earlier announced that Kenya had joined the league of oil-exporting countries, earning 12 million US dollars from the sale of its first batch of crude oil.
"We are now an oil exporter. Our first deal was concluded this afternoon with 200,000 barrels at a price of 12 million US dollars," President Kenyatta announced.
Kenya's crude oil was transported by road from Turkana County to the Kenya Petroleum Refinery facility in Changamwe, Mombasa, where it was stockpiled before being shipped out.
Tullow Oil struck oil in Turkana's Lokichar basin in northwest Kenya in 2012, marking the beginning of Kenya's oil exploration journey.
