Kenya reports unusual cancer cases linked to oil waste contamination

A group of 298 villagers from Marsabit County in northern Kenya has filed a lawsuit against BP and the Kenyan government, alleging that toxic waste left behind during oil exploration in the 1980s is causing a cancer cluster. The petitioners claim that the waste, which was handled by US oil company Amoco (later acquired by BP), has contaminated local water sources, including heavy metals.

The villagers believe that the rising number of cancer cases and deaths are linked to the toxic waste. According to local health records, over 500 people have died from cancers affecting the digestive system, particularly the oesophagus and stomach. Many of these cases were reported in villages with limited access to medical care.

Residents recall seeing workers dumping waste at former drilling sites, including a rusting pipe marked “Amoco Kenya” and patches of white, powdery substance scattered across the ground. Independent tests have pointed to possible contamination of local water sources.

The lawsuit seeks a full environmental assessment, access to safe water, and compensation for the alleged harm caused by BP’s actions. The petitioners are seeking answers from the company and government about what happened in the desert decades earlier and why there has been little response to their concerns.

BP has not commented on the allegations made by the petitioners. The Kenyan government has also declined to comment on the matter. The Environment and Land Court in Isiolo is set to hear the case, which will determine whether BP and the government are liable for failing to prevent or address environmental harm.

Source: Al Jazeera