Nascent Energy Politics in the East African Region: Kenya Case Study

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Center of Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP), Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom

Abstract

Sub-Saharan African Countries have abundant natural resources even oil and gas, which potentially relieve their economies of poverty. African oil and gas producers in sub-Saharan Africa have adopted and implemented national policies to promote sustainable and comprehensive economic development through the oil and gas industries. These policies have been inefficient or less efficient, mainly due to political instability, poor infrastructure, corruption, lack of technology, lack of capital investments, and policy inconsistencies. Using a case study method, this paper presents evidence that national policies are not appropriate and sufficient for the development of oil and gas countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This article reviews the status of energy legislation and policy from two aspects; Kenya's domestic policy and the policy of the East African region with a focus on Kenya as a future hub for oil and gas production and exports. It then concludes that developing countries must adopt and implement regional policy in a broader context, such as regional economic blocs. Through a regional approach, regions such as the East African Community can provide funding mechanisms and educational facilities through the integration of economies. This enables the domestic markets to benefit from an equal distribution of benefits through the oil and gas industry by observing the principles of justice, i.e. recognizing all stakeholders.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

AES. (2020). Invest in the energy sector of Kenya - Africa Energy Series. Africa Oil and Power. Retrieved from: https://energycapitalpower.com/report/kenya-special-report-2020/.
AFD. (2014). Kenya - last mile connectivity project. Retrieved from: https://projectsportal.afdb.org/dataportal/VProject/show/P-KE-FA0-010
Byrne, R., Mbeva, K., & Ockwell, D. (2018). A political economy of niche-building: Neoliberal-developmental encounters in photovoltaic electrification in Kenya. Energy research & social science, 44, 6-16. [DOI:10.1016/j.erss.2018.03.028]
Delina, L. L. (2020). The politics of energy and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa. In K. J. Hancock, & J. E. Allison (Eds), The Oxford handbook of energy politics (pp. 729-752). Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Oxford_Handbook_of_Energy_Politics/eoYEEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
Energy Hub Plus. (2020). Kenya’s policies and laws in environment, Energy, Petroleum, and Water Sectors. Retrieved from: https://energyhubplus.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Kenya-Country-Profile.pdf
Fuller, S. (2021). The Politics of energy justice. In K. J. Hancock, & J. E. Allison (Eds), The Oxford handbook of energy politics (pp. 215–232). Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Oxford_Handbook_of_Energy_Politics/eoYEEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
Godinho, C., & Eberhard, A. (2019). Learning from power sector reform: The case of Kenya. Washington, D.C: World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/31561
Government of the Republic of Keny. (2018). Third Medium Term Plan 2018-2022. ransforming Lives: Advancing socio-economic development through the “Big Four”
Government of Kenya. Nairobi: The National Treasury and Planning Treasury Building. https://vision2030.go.ke/publication/third-medium-term-plan-2018-2022/
Herbling, D. (2019). Kenya cancels environment license of $2 billion coal-power plant, Bloomberg. Retrieved from: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/kenya-cancels-environment-license-of-2-billion-coal-power-plant
IEA. (2011). Least Cost Power Development Plan 2011-2031. Retrieved from: https://www.iea.org/policies/5634-least-cost-power-development-plan-2011-2031
IEA. (2017). World energy outlook 2017. Retrieved from: https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2017
IEA. (2019). Africa energy outlook 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.iea.org/reports/africa-energy-outlook-2019
 International Energy Agency. (2019).World energy balances. Retrieved from: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/energy/world-energy-balances-2019_3a876031-en
Kaarbo, J., & Beasley, R. K. (1999). A practical guide to the comparative case study method in political psychology. Political Psychology, 20(2), 369–391. [DOI:10.1111/0162-895X.00149]
Kitson, M., Martin, R., & Tyler, P. (2010). Regional competitiveness: An elusive yet key concept? Regional Studies, 38(9), 991–999. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/0034340042000320816
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. (2020). Economic survey 2020 popular version. Retrieved from: https://www.knbs.or.ke/?wpdmpro=economic-survey-2020-popular-version
Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (2018). Working policy framework towards MSME development in oil & gas counties. Nairobi: Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. https://www.kenyachamber.or.ke/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/working_policy_framework_spreads_final.pdf
Kramon, E., &. Posner, D.N. (2011). Kenya’s New Constitution. Journal of Democracy, 22(2), 89–103. http://danielnposner.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Kramon-Posner-2011.pdf
Government of Kenya. (2018). National Climate Change Action Plan (Kenya): 2018-2022. Nairobi: Ministry of Environment and Forestry. https://www.lse.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/8737.pdf
Ministry of Energy. (2018). Republic of Kenya Ministry of Energy National Energy Policy. Nairobi: Ministry of Energy. https://kplc.co.ke/img/full/BL4PdOqKtxFT_National%20Energy%20Policy%20October%20%202018.pdf
Muhongo, R. S. (2020). Energy justice: A local content analytical framework for Sub-Saharan Africa. New York: Springer International Publishing. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Energy_Justice/BN0GEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
Nuclear Power and Energy Agency. (2019). Energy Act 2019. Nairobi: Nuclear Power and Energy Agency.http://www.nuclear.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/EnergyAct__No.1-of-2019.pdf
Obere, S., & Kataa, S. (2019). Kenya’s oil export. Retrieved from: https://kippra.or.ke/kenyas-oil-exports/
Olawuyi, D. S. (2021). Can MENA extractive industries support the global energy transition? Current opportunities and future directions. The Extractive Industries and Society, 8(2), 100685. [DOI:10.1016/j.exis.2020.02.003]
Ramdoo, I. (2015). Resource-based industrialisation in Africa: Optimising linkages and value chains in the extractive sector. Maastricht: ECDPM. https://ecdpm.org/publications/resource-based-industrialisation-in-africa-optimising-linkages-and-value-chains-in-the-extractive-sector/
 Ramdoo, I. (2015). Synergising and optimising mineral infrastructure in regional development strategies. Maastricht: ECDPM. https://ecdpm.org/publications/synergising-and-optimising-mineral-infrastructure-in-regional-development-strategies/
Ramdoo, I. (2015). Unpacking local content requirements in the extractive sector: What implications for the global trade and investment frameworks? Maastricht: ECDPM. https://ecdpm.org/publications/unpacking-local-content-requirements-in-the-extractive-sector/
. Ramdoo, I. (2016). Local content, trade and investment: Is there policy space left for linkages development in resource-rich countries? Maastricht: ECDPM. https://ecdpm.org/publications/local-content-trade-investment/
Southworld. (2018). Kenya’s LAPSSET oil corridor: Not yet born but already old. Retrieved from: https://www.southworld.net/kenyas-lapsset-oil-corridor-not-yet-born-but-already-old/
Standal, K., Winther, T., & Danielsen, K. (2020). Energy politics and gender. In K. J. Hancock, & J. E. Allison (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of energy politics (pp. 195–215). Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Oxford_Handbook_of_Energy_Politics/eoYEEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
TLW. 2019. “Successful End to Early Oil Pilot Scheme (EOPS). Retrieved from: https://www.tullowoil.com/media/case-studies/successful-end-early-oil-pilot-scheme-eops/
UNDP. (2017). Report on the Kenya Country Mining Vision (KCMV) retreat held at Sentrim Elementaita Naivasha. Retrieved from: https://www.ke.undp.org/content/kenya/en/home/library/poverty/Report-on-the-Kenya-Country-Mining-Vision-Retreat.html
Government of Kenya. (2007). Kenya Vision 2030 (popular version). Retrieved from: https://vision2030.go.ke/publication/kenya-vision-2030-popular-version/
Strategic Studies of public policy
Volume 11, Issue 41
March 2022
Pages 54-71

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics