Kenya seeks money for oil spill

Mombasa is the busiest port along the East African coast

Kenya is demanding $1m in compensation from the owners of an Indian tanker which spilled 140 metric tons of crude oil in Mombasa harbour last Thursday.

It hit metal railings as it docked, puncturing the hull - creating a slick with a radius of two kilometres.

International oil pollution treaties which Kenya has signed guarantee compensation, the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) said.

Nema is concerned that 40 hectares of mangroves have been affected.

Livelihoods damaged

The money, which the tanker's owners have agreed to pay, will be used to fund the clean-up of near-shore ecosystems, Nema's Deputy Director Ali Mohamed said.

He told the BBC News website that the spill would also have an effect on local communities which rely on fishing their livings.

"These habitats are the breeding grounds and nurseries for a variety of species. So the spill will impact on local fisherman too."

Mangroves devastated by Mombasa's last oil spill of some 5,000 metric tons in 1998, had never completely recovered, he said.

As the latest spill was smaller and the clean-up operation had successfully contained the slick by Saturday, he hoped it would not have such a serious impact.

The ship, currently detained in Mombasa port, will be released once Kenyan authorities receive a $13,000 bank guarantee on behalf of its owners.