A few weeks ago, I was honored by Kenya's Capital FM to visit their studios to discuss oil and gas industry during their Capital in the Morning show, hosted by Renee and Maqbul. It was an interesting discussion that covered a whole range of issues in the oil and gas value chain, from what is happening in Turkana, to global oil and gas geopolitics as well as governance and environmental concerns.
That discussion, and the subsequent interview on Capital TV's Focus with Renee got me thinking on the role of media in the oil and gas industry in Kenya.
Good governance of the oil and gas sector requires effective oversight from the media. A knowledgeable media plays a critical role in helping inform and engage citizens, and parliament to effectively hold the government and the companies involved in the sector accountable.
In Kenya, we are very keen to ensure that we avoid the mistakes made by other countries that have discovered oil and gas resources. As we inch closer to being an oil producer, we must ensure that the stakeholders are well informed of the impact the oil and gas resources will have in our society, environment and the economy in general.
Among the key issues that the media would help citizens understand include licensing of exploration blocks, legal and fiscal regimes, local content, governance, environmental concerns and very importantly, the economics of the oil and gas projects like the crude pipeline.
We have embarked on a project that will help in providing the Kenyan media and journalists with requisite information and knowledge. We hope that this will in turn help them report and inform you better on matters regarding upstream oil and gas in Kenya.
With love,
Joe Watson Gakuo
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