The High Court has allowed a case by residents of northern Kenya to go on, opening the door for them to sue a British oil company over claims of water pollution.
This suit involves 299 plaintiffs who say their lives were affected by the presence of waste resulting from activities carried out many years ago.
According to the allegations in the case, the above activities occurred in the 1980s in locations surrounding Kargi and Kalacha in the Chalbi Desert.
The complainants argue that the harmful waste was thrown in open pits or allowed to accumulate freely on land. This resulted in the entry of some of the substances into the water bodies consumed by both people and livestock in the area.
Some of the hazardous materials include dangerous chemicals which, according to the residents, were the cause of various diseases affecting the locality.
The petitioners allege that numerous individuals became ill due to consumption of water contaminated with the harmful materials. Other residents lost their livestock due to poisoning from the same water. The plaintiffs further claim that several hundred members of the local community have lost their lives as a result of diseases linked to the pollution.
Furthermore, they blame government agencies for failing to take action despite warnings.
The present case seeks to hold liable both the company and respective government departments for their actions throughout the years.
The oil corporation has not made any statement regarding the accusations.
This particular case has put a spotlight back on the consequences of drilling for oil in far-flung areas of the nation, wherein there are villages that rely solely on groundwater.
The topic will be addressed once more in court in May, where further information will be provided.