NAIROBI: Kenya Pipeline Company has agreed to a request by elders to cleanse Thange River in Kibwezi Sub-County, Makueni County where its oil pipeline once burst and leaked oil earlier this year.
In a speech read on her behalf by the Chief Manager, Technical Services Elias Karumi Thursday, the KPC interim managing director Ms Flora Okoth said that the oil company has accepted the request by elders to fund a traditional cleansing ceremony on the seasonal river.
“I want to assure the wazees (elders) that as early as next week through our station controller here in Makindu, the requirements for the traditional ceremony will be available,” read the speech delivered during a ceremony to handover Ilatu Dispensary, a health facility build by the company, to the community.
“As KPC, we believe this facility will help ease the burden of accessing basic health services in this community and help nurture the next generation of citizens to lead the community to prosperity,” she said. Those who spoke at the event praised the oil distributor for the gesture of goodwill saying that it was a sign of respect and its commitment as a responsible corporate citizen.
In June, fuel leaked near the source of the seasonal river after a pipeline carrying the commodity from the Mombasa refinery burst. Concerned elders then requested the company to support the cause to cleanse the river by performing a traditional ritual.
According to Mr Daniel Munene, the head of the company in the area, the elders requested for a goat, a bull and 50-kilogrammes of sugar to make a popular traditional brew to appease the gods. He said that the company has since repaired the pipe and that the commodities will be delivered to the villagers next week.
