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Functions

The Petroleum Function is headed by Commissioner for Petroleum Mr. James M. Ng’ang’a. The Function is charged with the following: -

  1. Development and review of policies, legal and regulatory framework for spearheading upstream and mid/downstream petroleum operations;
  2. Developing and reviewing fiscal and contractual terms for oil and gas;
  3. Assessment of Oil and Gas Potential in Kenya’s Exploration Blocks;
  4. Ensuring the security of supply of petroleum products;
  5. Monitoring the implementation of agreed solutions on short, mid and long term downstream petroleum challenges identified by Stakeholders;
  6. Gazettement of Open Tender System (OTS) terms and conditions;
  7. Negotiation and the regulation of Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs);
  8. Advising on change of administration in active Production Sharing Contracts;
  9. Capacity development in the areas of Petroleum Geosciences, Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum Economics, Petroleum Accounting,
  10. Petroleum Resource Appraisal & Management and Procurement techniques;
  11. Enforcement of Environmental Protection and Management regulations in liaison with National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA);
  12. Ensuring build-up of local content capacity in line with national policy goals;
  13. Development and updating of an oil & gas master plan for exploration, development, production and marketing of the produced oil & gas;
  14. Development and review of modalities and strategies for licensing of blocks in bid rounds and custodian of all signed PSCs;
  15. Promoting and facilitating investment opportunities for oil and gas; and
  16. Undertake research and development to enhance capacity in the Petroleum Sector as provided for in the Petroleum Policy and also Petroleum Act, 2019.

The Mining and Geological function is headed by the Commissioner of Mines and Geology and is responsible for the following functions:

  1. Development and review of policies, legal and regulatory framework for guiding geological survey and mining
  2. Coordination of provision of geoscience expertise and data to the government on all matters related to geology and the development of minerals
  3. Coordination of operations in geological, geophysical, geochemical, seismological and hydro-geological surveys, investigations and mapping
  4. Development of a national repository of geo-science information and facilitation of access to this information by the general public
  5. Exercising regulatory administration and supervision over all prospecting, mining, processing, refining and treatment operations, transport and any dealings in minerals
  6. Monitoring of compliance and ensuring compliance with the law, regulations and conditions relating to mineral rights
  7.  Preparation of the necessary reports required under this Mining Act, 2016;
  8. Exercising regulatory administration and supervision over the use of
  9. Commercial explosives in accordance with the Explosives Act (Cap. 115);
  10. Provision of advice during the negotiation of mineral agreements, minerals related litigation and arbitration;
  11. Promotion of co-operation among state agencies, county governments, the private sector, research bodies, non-governmental organizations and other organizations which are engaged in programmes related to mining and activities to enhance the administration and operation of the Mining Act, 2016;

The Function is headed by Secretary Administration, reporting to the Principal Secretary. It is organized into ten (10) specialized Divisions/Units offering common shared services. The common shared services of the Ministry consist of roles that are not core to the Ministry but offer critical support services to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining.

  1. Administration
  2. Human Resource Management and Development Division
  3. Finance
  4. Accounts
  5. Central Planning and Project Monitoring Unit
  6. Supply Chain Management Services Unit
  7. Information Communication Technology (ICT) Unit
  8. Public Communications
  9. Legal Unit
  10. Internal Audit Unit

General Administration Division
Apart from coordinating, organizing and managing Administrative Services in the Ministry, the Division also provides centralized services such as:

  • Security
  • Transport management
  • Customer care
  • Registry and mail
  • Office accommodation
  • Telecommunication
  • Library

Human Resource Management and Development Division
The Division is responsible for matters relating to Human Resource Management and Development within the Ministry. The head of Human Resource Management and Development is also the Secretary to the Ministerial Human Resource Management Advisory Committee (MHRMAC) which deals with employee issues such as promotion, discipline, training and development among others while the Ministerial Performance Management Committee (MPMC) deals with staff performance. Other functions of Human Resource Management and Development Division include:

  • Providing strategic leadership to the Ministry’s Human Resource Management and Development
  • Staff Recruitment, Selection and Promotion;
  • Implementation of Public Service Commission decisions;
  • Implementation of Ministerial Human Resource Management Advisory Committee decisions;
  • Payroll Management and Complement Control;
  • Pension/Gratuity matters;
  • Management of HR Records;
  • Advising on and overseeing implementation of HR policies;
  • Interpretation of HR Laws, Regulations, Rules and Policies;
  • Coordinating Internship/Attachment programmes;
  • Personnel Emolument Budget; and
  • Staff welfare.

Finance
The Finance Unit is responsible for coordination of budget planning activity, analysis, forecasting and reporting. It also monitors and reports on budget performance and expenditure. The Unit is headed by Senior Chief Finance Officer who reports to the Principal Secretary.

Accounts
The Accounts Unit is charged with the responsibility of ensuring prudent cash management, preparation of regular expenditure trend reports as well as providing interpretation for financial legislation and procedures in the Ministry.

Central Planning and Project Monitoring Unit
The Unit has the overall responsibility of providing relevant economic policy guidelines for the Ministry. Its main objective is to provide informed advice for planning purposes and decision making to meet socio-economic development in the extractives sector.
A Director of Planning who reports to the Principal Secretary heads the unit. The functions of the Unit are as follows:

  • Coordinate economic planning function in the Ministry;
  • Planning and analysis of economic policy;
  • Provision of informed advice on economic policy and planning matters;
  • Undertaking economic analysis;
  • Evaluation and monitoring of development projects and programmes;
  • Co-ordination of strategic planning and performance contracting; and
  • Performance review of economic activities to inform policy and budgetary processes.

Supply Chain Management Services Unit
The Unit is responsible for matters relating to procurement of goods, works and services. The head of the advises on supply chain matters and coordinates the following functions:

  • Preparing procurement plan in line with budgetary provisions.
  • Procuring goods, works and service.
  • Advertising of tenders.
  • Preparing statutory reports to the relevant authorities.
  • Co-ordination of evaluation process.
  • Co-ordination of inspection and acceptance of goods, works and services.
  • Initiations of payment process.
  • Updating the bi-annual register for suppliers.
  • Co-ordination of contract management.
  • Interpreting the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act 2015(PPADA) Implementation.

Information Communication Technology (ICT) Unit
The Unit provides professional and technical support for the information management systems which supports decision-making in the Ministry and delivery of Government services. In its day-to-day operations, the Unit discharges the following functions:

  • Implementation of ICT policies and strategies;
  • Spear head the implementation of the e-Government strategy;
  • Management, maintenance and upgrading of ICT systems and infrastructure;
  • Training of users on ICT applications to prepare them for the desired changes;
  • Managing of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining website and ICT networks;
  • Ensuring network security controls;
  • Maintenance of ICT hardware/equipment;
  • Diagnosis of faults and repair of faults in computers and related accessories
  • Development and monitoring of technical specifications for procurement of ICT goods and services and recommending disposal of unserviceable electronic equipment
  • Provide technical support to Directorates/Divisions during the preparations of their respective annual budget.

Public Communications
The Public Communication Unit (PCU) provides professional, administrative and operational support on matters of Public Communication in the Ministry. It is also responsible for among others, managing strategic communications in the Ministry with objectives such implementation of public communication policy; development of efficient (internal & external) communication structures and channels to ensure free flow of information and proper feedback mechanisms; propagation; promotion of Ministry’s policies, programmes and projects and enhancing partnership with media and, enhancing transparency between the Ministry and its stakeholders through information sharing and engagement.
 
Legal Unit
The Legal Unit in the Ministry is housed under the Administration and Support Services. The Unit is responsible for among other things; providing legal and related services in accordance with the legal and regulatory framework for oil and gas and best industry practices; and, negotiating, drafting and ensuring proper execution of legal documentation on petroleum operations.
The Legal Unit works closely with the Attorney-General, who is the principal legal adviser to the Government according to Article 156 (4) of the Constitution. The Unit is therefore comprised of State Counsel assigned by the Office of the Attorney-General and other qualified officers.

Internal Audit Unit
The Internal Audit in the Ministry supports the Accounting Officer and Head of Departments in the Ministry to effectively discharge their responsibilities by measuring, evaluating and reporting on the effectiveness of internal control systems implemented by them to ensure:-

  • Appropriate assessment of risks and adoption of strategies to manage risks to acceptable levels
  • Compliance with applicable policies, procedures, laws and regulations
  • Reliability of internal and external reporting and accountability processes, and
  • Compliance with the relevant codes of conduct and ethical guidelines.