Oil corporation, MP Sunkuyia distribute relief food to Magadi flood victims

The National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOC) Managing Director Leparan Morintat and Kajiado West MP George Sunkuyia led the distribution of Sh3.2 million relief food to hundreds of residents of Magadi who were affected by floods.

During the heavy rains in March and April, more than 10,000 people in Kajiado West constituency lost their houses, crops and livelihoods due to floods.

The NOC boss and MP presented the donations to Shompole Group Ranch at Oloika market and the Olkiramatian Group Ranch and Musenke Community at Olkiramatian Assistant County Commissioner’s office.

The area, which sits on the southern tip of the floor of the Rift Valley, is prone to flash floods from higher points which render the locals destitute.

“As stakeholders who do oil exploration in this area we felt we should do something to supplement what the Department of Special Programmes is doing,” said Mr Morintat.

Local leaders said that the remote region is easily forgotten and called for more support.   

The donation to flood victims is part of NOC’s corporate social responsibility in the region which cut across education, water, agriculture, environment and public works sectors.

NOC has been conducting oil exploration within the southern part of Block 14T that stretches from Kajiado to Narok, Nakuru and Baringo counties.

The government is keen to discover more oil to boost the commercial viability of its oil programme after the find in the Lokichar basin of Turkana county, in order to cushion the country from external shocks and safeguard foreign exchange.