Draft National Petroleum Policy
Ministry of Energy and Petroleum
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Abstract: The Draft National Petroleum Policy (February 2025) establishes Kenya's strategic framework for petroleum sector development, regulation, and sustainability. It reflects the evolving landscape of oil and gas operations across upstream, midstream, and downstream sub-sectors, driven by discoveries of crude oil and gas in key basins such as Lamu, Anza, Mandera, and the Tertiary Rift. The policy seeks to harmonize legal, institutional, and regulatory mechanisms while promoting investment, environmental protection, and socioeconomic growth aligned with Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda (BETA). Developed through a multi-agency and participatory process, it integrates inputs from counties, Parliament, and the public, enhancing policy ownership and legitimacy. Key components include licensing procedures, local content promotion, environmental health and safety measures, host community rights, climate change adaptation, petroleum data governance, and dispute resolution. The policy envisions an inclusive, accountable, and sustainable petroleum sector, contributing to national development while mitigating the risks of resource-related conflict and environmental degradation. Its implementation is backed by a detailed institutional and monitoring framework.