Collaboration key in management of safety in the petroleum sector

A boy hikes a lift on a moving oil tankeralong Obote road in Kisumu on November 26, 2020. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Accidents and incidents in the petroleum sector cost Kenya’s economy more than Sh197 million in direct losses between July and December 2025. According to statistics analysed by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), 83 percent of these accidents occurred during the transportation of petroleum products. These losses translate to consequences that extend far beyond the consignor and the consignee. They ripple across communities and public systems, revealing a shared vulnerability that demands collective responsibility.

Accidents involving petroleum create heavy financial losses arising from damaged infrastructure, lost product, business interruptions and legal liabilities. Further, the environment suffers serious degradation due to soil, surface and groundwater contamination. Most tragically, lives are lost and families permanently altered through life-threatening injuries, fatalities and long-term disabilities. These human costs translate into broader economic burdens of disrupted supply chains, job losses, increased insurance premiums, and a strain on healthcare facilities.