NAIROBI, Kenya, May 2 (UPI) -- Kenyan lawmakers have joined forces to create a lobby group protecting local rights in the face of looming oil exploration projects, The Standard reported Tuesday.
Hurumia Rights and Governance was formed by a number of Kenyan coastal members of parliament demanding recognition by both the national government and those multinational oil corporations engaged in oil exploration in the Kenyan archipelago. The group plans to work with the Kenya National Human Rights Commission.
Mohamed Kubwa, councilor for the Siyu/Pate ward, was quoted by The Standard as saying, "We do not want our rights trampled upon anymore and we are going to speak with one voice."
In recent weeks, there has been an increased interest in Kenya's oil potential.
As well as Woodside Energy and Pan International, two Australian oil companies already prospecting for oil in Kenya, Chinese President Hu Jintao last week announced on a trip to Kenya that he had signed a 20-year offshore prospecting agreement with the Kenyan government.
