Marsabit Residents sue BP Over Alleged Toxic Waste Deaths
The waste is said to have resulted from oil exploration activities in the area by the US-based Amoco Corporation, which was acquired by BP in 1998
In a landmark case, 299 Kenyan residents from Marsabit County are suing British Oil corporation BP PLC, alleging that toxic waste from the 1980s caused widespread cancer, deaths, and livestock losses.
The waste is said to have resulted from oil exploration activities in the area by the US-based Amoco Corporation, which was acquired by BP in 1998. Between 1986 and 1989, Amoco drilled exploration wells around the Chalbi Desert in search of oil.
According to the case filed at the Environment and Land Court, hazardous waste, including radioactive materials, contaminated groundwater and affected communities in Kargi, Maikona, Kalacha, Turbi, North Horr, Bubisa, and Dukana.
Court documents cite contaminants including radium isotopes, arsenic, lead, and nitrates, which were allegedly dumped in unlined pits or left exposed.
Over the last three decades, residents have reported increased cancer rates, illnesses, and livestock deaths linked to toxic waste left behind during oil exploration in the 1980s. More than 500 people are reported to have died from cancers affecting the digestive system, particularly the oesophagus and stomach.
In court, the petitioners sued BP and the Kenyan government, accusing both parties of failing to prevent or address the environmental harm. They are seeking a full environmental assessment, access to safe water, and compensation for affected families and livestock losses.
“During operations at the sites, hazardous and toxic contaminants were improperly disposed of, discharged, and released into the environment,” the petition states.
The court will issue directions on the matter on May 21, 2026, and set a procedural roadmap for the full hearing of the petition.
The case is being seen as a potential eye-opener for similar environmental complaints in northern Kenya.
Last year, Wajir Senator Abass Mohamed raised alarm over a sharp rise in cancer cases in Wajir County, linking the disturbing trend to the suspected dumping of toxic and nuclear waste in northern Kenya.
In a statement to the Senate, the Senator sought comprehensive data on cancer cases in Wajir since 2014 and called for a full environmental audit by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) in the counties of Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Marsabit, and Isiolo to determine whether residents had been exposed to radioactive or chemical contaminants.
In 2024, the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Mining launched an official investigation into the claims, seeking to identify the dump sites and the parties involved.