The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Energy has flagged funding shortfalls in the 2026 Budget Policy Statement for the State Departments of Energy and Petroleum, raising concerns over Kenya’s readiness to meet its first commercial oil production target.
The session, chaired by Nakuru East MP David Gikaria, reviewed the financial allocations for the upcoming fiscal year.
Committee members expressed alarm at the lack of dedicated funding for critical infrastructure to support the flagship oil drilling project in Turkana County, which is expected to begin operations before the end of 2026.
Gikaria described the Turkana oil initiative as one of Kenya’s largest and most strategic investments, stressing the urgent need for sufficient resources to fast-track key enabling facilities.
“The ministry has a duty to ensure there are adequate resources to implement essential infrastructure for the project to succeed,” he said.
Lawmakers identified enhanced security within the oil blocks as a priority. Plans include building a police station to protect drilling equipment, personnel, and extracted crude.
The committee noted that without proper security, the project could face serious operational risks.
Funding for a water pipeline from Turkwel Dam to Turkana was also highlighted.
Water is crucial for drilling and the proposed pipeline would additionally supply communities with water for domestic use and irrigation, supporting local livelihoods.
Other key infrastructure needs include access roads, electricity connectivity, and support facilities necessary for smooth operations in the oil fields.
However, the 2026 Budget Policy Statements did not clearly allocate funds for these critical components, raising doubts about whether the government can meet its target of producing Kenya’s first commercial oil by December 2026.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
