Kenya is targeting December 2026 to begin commercial crude oil exports from the Lake Turkana Basin, marking a major milestone in the country’s long-delayed petroleum development plans.
President William Ruto announced the ambitious timeline during the 63rd Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret on October 20, saying progress in the oilfields was accelerating as the government seeks to unlock new revenue streams and attract investment into the energy sector.
“In the months ahead, we will unlock new opportunities in our energy sector. Work in the Lake Turkana Basin is progressing rapidly, with oil exports targeted to begin in December,” Ruto said.
The announcement comes more than 14 years after commercially viable oil deposits were discovered in the South Lokichar Basin in Turkana County in 2012.
Despite the discovery, commercial production has been delayed by financing constraints, infrastructure requirements and prolonged negotiations over the development of the oilfields.
Kenyan energy company Gulf Energy, through its affiliate Auron Energy E&P Limited, is now leading the project after acquiring Tullow Oil’s entire working interest in the country. The transaction was completed in September 2025, providing fresh momentum to the long-stalled development.
The company plans to begin production at approximately 20,000 barrels per day, with the potential to increase output to 50,000 barrels daily as operations expand. A drilling rig supplied by China’s Great Wall Drilling Company arrived at the Port of Mombasa in September, ahead of planned drilling activities.
However, uncertainty remains over the December export target. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) had previously indicated that production would begin in December, with the first commercial exports expected to leave Mombasa in the first quarter of 2027.
The difference between the presidential announcement and the regulator’s earlier timetable raises questions about operational readiness and the infrastructure required to transport crude oil to international markets.
Meanwhile, the government has invited members of the public to propose an official name for Kenya’s crude oil ahead of its anticipated entry into global markets.
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum says submissions must reflect national identity, promote patriotism and be easy to pronounce internationally. The exercise aims to establish a recognisable commercial identity for Kenyan crude, similar to Nigeria’s Bonny Light and the United Arab Emirates’ Murban.
Submissions are expected to close on October 29, 2026.
Kenya previously exported approximately 200,000 barrels of crude oil in 2019 under the Early Oil Pilot Scheme, earning about $12 million. The planned December launch would therefore represent a transition from pilot shipments to sustained commercial production.
If successful, the project could strengthen Kenya’s export earnings, attract investment and establish Turkana as a significant contributor to the country’s energy sector.