Senate orders joint action over decade-long Thange oil spill crisis

The Senate has ordered the Kenya Pipeline Company, National Environment Management Authority and Makueni County Government to work jointly to resolve the humanitarian crisis occasioned by oil spillage into River Thange in June 2015.

Senate Energy Committee Chairman Oburu Odinga said that it was a matter of great concern that the residents of Thange Ward in Kibwezi East Constituency have continued to suffer the consequences of the oil spill more than 10 years later without tangible solution.

The Siaya Senator said that the Energy Committee recently visited the area and confirmed that the water and soil were affected putting at risk over 242 households in the area which have experienced unexplained deaths and illnesses linked to the environmental disaster.

“The Senate is calling on the Kenya Pipeline Company, National Environment Management and Makueni County Government to work jointly so that we can have a solution to this grave matter that has remained unresolved many years later with residents suffering,” said Oburu.

KPC Managing Director Joe Sang welcomed the Senate directions stating that they were ready to work with other stakeholders to address the concerns of the Thange residents pointing out that the 242 households had been identified and given Sh 38 million as compensation.

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Sang said that they had offered the local community Sh 324 million as support to the community and that they had dug trenches in a 2.1 km stretch to cut off any movement of the oil product when the matter was brought to their attention and were ready to work with locals.

The KPC MD said that the state agency has comprehensive insurance coverage and that they are aware that the area residents have complained that it was not adequate and that they were committed to working with all stakeholders to resolve the matter once and for all.

“Kenya Pipeline Company has done everything possible to address the matters raised by Thange residents that is why we are willing to engage with all stakeholders as guided by the Senate so that the matter can be resolved once and for all,” said Sang.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo stated that the pollution of River Thange was brought to the Senate in October 2015 with then Speaker Ekwee Ethuro sending some Senators to investigate the matter and came back with a report which painted a grim picture of the situation on the ground.

Mutula said that it was clear that nothing much has been done several years later with locals suffering the consequences of having benzene in their soil and water which has resulted in residents suffering from various cancers with reported deaths and huge expenses in medical care.

The Makueni Governor said that it was unfortunate that they are burying residents as a result of the consequences of the chemicals in the soil while others are dependent on frequent medication with even young children who were born after the spillage being affected.

“As the leadership of Makueni County we are tired of using a lot of money on funeral expenses and in supporting medication of the victims of the Thange River spillage, it is clear that the area residents are affected and they should be compensated adequately,” said Mutula.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said that the Benzene chemical in the soil if it gets into the body system of residents for one year can cause them various cancers since it gets into their bone marrow and is resistant to various medications.

Khalwale said that as a medical professional he was concerned over the wellbeing of the area residents calling for an immediate mitigation initiative which might include relocating residents from the areas that are highly affected so as to ensure that they do not continue suffering.

Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo said that Sang was not available when the Senate Energy Committee visited the ground and that it was important for him to be there since this will change his perception on how he was handling the matter which was of great concern to area residents.

“The residents of Makueni have suffered for the last 10 years since tragedy struck. Unfortunately, Kenya Pipeline Company does not seem to give this matter the seriousness it deserves, that is why we want all stakeholders to address this matter,” said Maanzo.

Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina said that there was a need to put a human face to this matter since going to Court might take a long time to resolve the matter with residents continuing suffering as the years go by which will not be in the best interests of locals.

Kina said that issues of environmental pollution are very serious with long-term repercussions on those affected and that all actors in the Thange matter should take it seriously since there have been deaths and illnesses that can be linked to what was experienced several years ago.

NEMA Director General Mamo Mamo told Senators that the state agency granted partial decommissioning to Kenya Pipeline Company based on the resort they received from experts and called for regular monitoring of water and soil to check on pollution.