Getting It Right: Towards a Socially Sustainable Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry in Kenya

Abstract

In the quest to enhance their material self-sufficiency, nations are supposed to take cognizance of the implications of their endeavors. This therefore calls for the adoption of sustainability attitudes by all the players in the various sectors of the economy. Being one of the drivers of the Kenyan economy, the petroleum and natural gas industry is at the opportune moment to churn a path for a successful future. The adoption of sustainable practices by this industry at its tender age will see to it that its future will not be coupled with the problems that have arisen in the past in other countries where petroleum and natural gas discoveries have been made. Social sustainability is particularly important among the other pillars of sustainability and the other pillars are predicated upon it. The petroleum and natural gas industry therefore has to take this into consideration in order to avert conflicts in future with communities amongst whom they operate.

Keywords: Social Sustainability, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Kenya