Thange Residents Still Suffering a Decade After KPC Oil Spill
Although cleanup efforts began within weeks, the petroleum had already seeped into the Thange River, contaminating vital water sources and surrounding farmland.
**Caption:** A decade after a devastating oil spill, Thange Village residents in Makueni County still suffer environmental and health impacts, demanding justice and long-term action from Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC). Photo/Parliament of Kenya.
By Robert Assad
Ten years after a massive oil spill devastated Thange Village, residents of Kibwezi East in Makueni County continue to face severe environmental and health consequences, with many calling for justice and long-term restoration from the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC).
The spill, which occurred on May 12, 2015, was caused by a suspected leak along the Mombasa-Nairobi pipeline. Although cleanup efforts began within weeks, the petroleum had already seeped into the Thange River, contaminating vital water sources and surrounding farmland.
Initial reports by KPC downplayed the impact, estimating the damage to just a one-kilometer radius. However, residents and independent assessments have since revealed the contamination spread downstream, affecting communities in areas such as Masongaleni Ward.
In a petition to the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, Thange MCA Erick Musyoki Katumo detailed the ongoing environmental crisis, stating that the oil spill rendered farmland infertile and water sources unsafe, leading to increased cases of lead poisoning, kidney failure, and cancer.
“Our land is no longer arable, and we are forced to purchase food from distant markets. This crisis has crippled our economy and our health,” said one local resident.
Once a thriving agricultural region fed by water from the Chyulu Hills, Thange Village now struggles with widespread vegetation loss, livestock miscarriages, and closed boreholes due to water contamination.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior confirmed that the oil spillage runs as deep as 15 feet underground and continues to pose serious health threats.
Environmental authorities are now pushing for accountability. NEMA Director General Mamo Mamo emphasized that every Kenyan has a constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment.
NEMA board member John Mutuse, a Thange native, called for sustainable, long-term interventions beyond monetary compensation.
KPC disclosed it had paid Ksh. 38 million in compensation to 342 affected households. However, critics argue that this is insufficient given the scale of the crisis.
Senator Daniel Maanzo announced that the Senate would summon KPC Managing Director Joe Sang to address compensation for residents across the entire 42-kilometer Thange River stretch—some of whom may have to be relocated.
Governor Mutula proposed the establishment of a Ksh. 100 billion deposit bond by KPC to fund long-term environmental restoration. “People are dying,” he said. “We must act now before Thange becomes uninhabitable.”
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