Makueni County to make oil spill report public

Makueni County to make oil spill report public

The County Government of Makueni says the report on oil spill at Thange Village in Kibwezi East Constituency would be released next week on Thursday to the community following sustained pressure from leaders and media.

Speaking on Thursday at a meeting in Mbulutini Village, the county’s Water and Environment Executive, Douglas Mbilu, told residents they had delayed the release of the Economic and Social Impact Assessment Report on the oil spill because they were not satisfied with the original report.

Following an expose by Musyi FM, Makueni leaders scrambled to appease the public, saying there were many things that had been left out in the report that was completed five months.

Mbilu told Makueni residents that the county had to make its own recommendations following the investigation that was conducted between January and March this year.

“There were so many things left out in the report and we had to make our own recommendations before bringing the report to the community and will read it to you from A to Z,” said the Water and Environment County Executive.

Kibwezi East MP, Jessica Mbalu, who attended the meeting, demanded the report be released as soon as possible so that the affected residents could receive compensation.

“It’s very unfortunate that I heard from the media that the report has never been released. That report must be read here soon,” said the MP.

Ms Mbalu accused politicians of “playing politics” with a serious issue.

Residents had complained that they had not seen the report since April when the investigation was completed, prompting the county government to call the meeting to appease them.

The oil spill at Thange Village caused untold suffering to the residents, who at the height of the scare, feared being exposed to lead poisoning.

Mid last year, the Kenya Pipeline Company pipeline ruptured, spilling oil in the Thange River which is an important water resource for the Thange Village.

Following the spill, residents were asked by the county health officials to avoid eating fruits and vegetables grown using irrigated water to avoid possible poisoning.

Ninety-five-year old Ngie Nguku told Citizen Digital that he has had difficulty breathing and experienced painful lungs since the spillage that occurred in 2015.

According to the report that has been seen by Citizen Digital, elements of Benzene and Toulene, which can cause liver, kidney and other serious complications, were found in the spilled oil.

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