Kenyans Invited to Choose Name for Country’s Crude Oil Ahead of December Production

The government has invited members of the public to suggest a name for Kenya’s crude oil ahead of the planned start of commercial production in December 2026. The initiative will allow citizens to participate in choosing the identity under which the country’s petroleum will be marketed internationally.

The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum announced that submissions must be made by 5pm on Thursday, October 29. The selected name is expected to serve as Kenya’s commercial identity in the global oil industry, appearing in trading platforms, cargo documents and international price reports.

The announcement follows President William Ruto’s declaration during the Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20 that Kenya was targeting December 2026 to begin exporting crude oil from Turkana County. The planned transition marks a significant step in the country’s efforts to move from exploration and pilot production to full commercial operations.

Commercially viable oil deposits were discovered in the South Lokichar Basin in Turkana County in 2012. In February 2026, Gulf Energy E&P BV secured a Ksh1.9 billion onshore drilling rig from the United Arab Emirates’ Great Wall Drilling Company under a long-term lease to support operations in the basin.

According to the ministry, the proposed name should reflect Kenya’s national identity, promote patriotism and be easy to pronounce and remember across different languages. It must also avoid links to specific counties, communities, companies, political movements or religious groups while meeting trademark registration requirements locally and internationally.

Individuals, institutions, professional organisations and communities can participate in the exercise. Each submission must contain the proposed name, an explanation of its meaning and suitability, and the applicant’s contact information.

Kenyans can submit their suggestions through the government’s official petroleum website, by emailing [email protected], or by delivering a sealed envelope marked “Public participation: Naming of Kenya’s crude oil” to the State Department for Petroleum on the 11th floor of Kasneb Towers Two.

The government has cited internationally traded crude grades such as Brent from the United Kingdom, Murban from the United Arab Emirates and Bonny Light from Nigeria as examples of established commercial identities. Kenya’s naming exercise is intended to give its petroleum a distinct identity ahead of entry into the international market.

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