Kenyan High Court Allows Landmark Lawsuit Against BP for Toxic Waste

A Kenyan High Court has given the green light for a lawsuit against BP, filed by 299 petitioners, to proceed. The lawsuit alleges that BP's oil exploration activities contaminated drinking water in northern Kenya with toxic waste, affecting residents and livestock. The case highlights environmental negligence claims.

The High Court of Kenya has ruled in favor of a major lawsuit against multinational oil and gas giant BP. The legal action accuses BP of negligent toxic waste disposal operations that allegedly polluted drinking water in northern Kenya over several decades.

The lawsuit, involving 299 petitioners, was brought before the Land and Environment Court in Isiolo. It alleges that since the 1980s, waste from oil exploration activities conducted by Amoco Corporation, later acquired by BP, has contaminated groundwater with hazardous materials.

Among the charges are claims of serious illnesses and deaths linked to heavy metals and carcinogens in water supplies near exploration sites in the Chalbi Desert. The case also implicates Kenyan authorities for oversight failures. Proceedings will continue in May, amid BP's lack of public response.

(With inputs from agencies.)