NAIROBI, Kenya- The government has invited Kenyans to propose a name for the country’s crude oil ahead of its planned start of commercial production on December 1, 2026.
The State Department for Petroleum says the name will become part of Kenya’s commercial identity in the global oil market and appear on cargo documents, price reports and trading platforms.
In a public notice, the department called on individuals, communities, institutions, professional bodies and other interested parties to submit proposals.
Each submission should include the proposed name, its meaning and why it is suitable, as well as the applicant’s contact details.
The department says the name should be distinctly Kenyan, easy to pronounce and remember, and reflect national pride.
It should not be associated with a single county, community or company, or carry political, religious or divisive connotations. It should also be available for trademark registration in Kenya and internationally.
Submissions can be made through the State Department for Petroleum’s website, by email to crudeoilbranding@petroleum.go.ke, or in a sealed envelope delivered to the Principal Secretary at KASNEB Towers Two, 11th floor, in Nairobi.
The deadline is 5pm on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
Commercially viable oil was discovered in the South Lokichar Basin in Turkana County in 2012.
The government has set December 1, 2026, as the target date for first oil, when the project is expected to move from exploration and pilot production to commercial production.
Kenya’s first phase is expected to produce about 20,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The oil is expected to be transported by road to storage facilities before export.
The department’s notice cites examples of crude oil names used by other countries, including Brent for the United Kingdom, Murban for the United Arab Emirates, Bonny Light for Nigeria and Pearl Sweet for Uganda.
Kenya is targeting its first crude oil exports through the Port of Mombasa in the first quarter of 2027, according to the Kenya News Agency.
