CS Wandayi forms committee to help Kenya make money from oil discoveries
By Lutta Njomo, August 24, 2025Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi has instituted a committee to fast-track the commercial development of oil discoveries in the country.
Through a gazette notice dated Friday, August 22, 2025, the CS appointed the First Oil Technical, Commercial and Legal Working Committee. The Joseph Otieno-led committee is expected to help Kenya achieve its dream of becoming a major oil producer and exporter.
“IT IS notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 10 (1) (c), 10 (1) (d), 10 (1) (e), 10 (1) (h), 10 (1) (i), 10 (1) (j), 10 (1) (l), 10 (1) (m), 10 (2), 10 (3), 10 (4) and 10 (5) of the Petroleum Act, Cap. 308 of the laws of Kenya, and for the purposes of realizing the objective of Kenya’s Vision 2030 to fast-track the commercial development of oil discoveries in Block T6 and Block T7 to achieve Full Field Development and the development of a crude oil export route, appoints a committee to be known as the First Oil Technical, Commercial and Legal Working Committee,” the gazette notice read in part.
Apart from Joseph Otieno, Wandayi appointed Joseph Wafula, Abigail Mwangi, Edward Kinyua (Eng.), Josky Kisali, Vincent Areri, Charles Kamunya, Lemiso Koiyo, Sharon Rotich, Robert Kibiwott, Duncan Ndegwa, Charity Cheruiyot, David Kariuki, Leah Hadidah Jara, Loise Thugge, Leonard Yegon, Stella Opakas and Clement Nadio, among others, to sit in the committee.
Their mandate
According to the CS, the First Oil Technical, Commercial and Legal Working Committee will be expected to negotiate contracts with the contractors to secure the government’s interest by obtaining the most favourable conditions.
Its mandate will also include undertaking such research and consultations, including consultations with government-appointed advisors.
“Advise the Government on, and draft any, enabling policy, or statutory, regulatory or institutional framework, in relation to oil and gas exploration, development and production, and approve a roadmap for the First Oil Development phases,” the notice read in part.
“Review and submit, once every three months, reports on the progress and work done in respect of First Oil Development to the Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary,” it added.
Going full commercial
The formation of the committee came months after CS Wandayi announced that the government is keen to move past the exploration phase and into full-scale development of the Turkana oil fields, marking a significant milestone in the country’s energy sector.
He further disclosed that another company was interested in entering the oil exploration business in Kenya after Tullow Oil exited.
“Once we are convinced that they have all we want, we are going to approve the Field Development Plan (FDP) that will then usher the door or the commercial phase. By the end of 2026, we will be having the first product from Turkana heading to the coast or export,” the CS stated during a recent interview with a local TV station.