The new Sh48 billion Mombasa-Nairobi pipeline leaked in Kibwezi in March, spilling oil into River Kiboko and polluting the fragile environment in one of the most important water catchments in the largely arid county.
The water is contaminated, exposing residents to risks of disease. Crops relying on irrigation are dying. The Water Resources Authority (WRA) has cautioned people who depend on the river against drinking water from it.
The oil spill has been the subject of extensive media coverage in the past two months.
On Monday, June 3, the Senate Energy committee carried out a fact-finding mission to the area and conducted public hearings on the disaster.
The facts of the spill and what ought to be done urgently is a matter of a bitter dispute involving the residents, Makueni county government, WRA, Kenya Pipeline Company and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
On Saturday, Citizen TV aired a report on the spill, detailing the suffering of the residents who depend on Kiboko River, the dangers posed to the environment and livelihoods and the frustrations of the government of Kivutha Kibwana and other Makueni leaders.
The report by Elphas Lagat was an excellent piece of journalism. Superb story telling from the point of view of the community, with great pictures of the oil spill and its effects.
The affected residents spoke, as well as Kibwana, his deputy Adelina Mwau and Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr. They all had one story: They are angry with KPC for doing nothing to mitigate the suffering of residents.
“This country spent Sh51 billion to construct this pipeline but we cannot give these people water for the last 45 days,” Kilonzo said.
“I am very clear in my mind that KPC has been extremely negligent,” Kibwana said.
But the report left out one crucial point: What’s KPC’s position on the matter? What is the corporation doing about the oil spill?
“So widespread is the spill that KPC is still digging trenches in efforts to flush out the oil,” Lagat narrated, showing an earthmover on site. But the reporter did not speak to the parastatal. Why?
He only said: “Nonetheless KPC says it awaits test results conducted by a multi-agency team to ascertain the levels of contamination, tests conducted after the Water Resources Authority issued a cautionary notice on water use.”
This is lame – and contradictory. “KPC says” means what? Whom did the reporter speak to and why was that person or persons not identified by name and designation? Was the reporter trying to protect certain people at KPC?
The report said WRA relied on test results of the oil spill to caution residents against using water from River Kiboko. Yet KPC said it was waiting for test results. Which ones?
This confusion ought to have been clarified by talking to the honchos at KPC. Na si tafadhali. The affected people and their leaders have raised serious questions about the parastatal’s conduct since the spill occurred. They are not happy.
Citizen TV should have sought answers to the questions from KPC. The company owes the people of Makueni and the nation an explanation about why the new pipeline leaked and what they are doing about its disastrous effects.
On this point, Citizen TV let down the people of Makueni and all Kenyans.
