NAIROBI, Aug 24, 2025 — Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has unveiled a 35-member committee to accelerate the commercial development of oil in Blocks T6 and T7 in Lokichar, Turkana County, setting the stage for Kenya’s first oil exports by 2026.
The team, officially named the First Oil Technical, Commercial and Legal Working Committee, was gazetted on August 22. Its primary mandate is to drive Full Field Development and establish a crude oil export corridor — a milestone aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030.
Wandayi said the committee will negotiate First Oil Technical and Commercial Agreements between the government and contractors to ensure favorable terms and maximum national benefit. It will also advise on enabling policies, statutory regulations, and institutional frameworks to strengthen Kenya’s oil and gas sector.
“The committee will spearhead research, consultations, and stakeholder engagements to inform decisions on technical and commercial agreements,” Wandayi stated.
Other key responsibilities include drafting a land access framework for secure, long-term development in Lokichar, resolving disputes, and coordinating government agencies with contractors to protect national interests.
The committee will submit quarterly progress reports to the Energy CS and Principal Secretary, providing transparency and accountability in the run-up to Kenya’s first oil export operations.
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