Negotiations are currently ongoing between Kenya and the United States for the construction of an oil pipeline in Northern Kenya.

The US Ambassador to Kenya, Robert Godec (photo) paid a visit to Energy Cabinet Secretary, Charles Keter on Tuesday to discuss the terms of the cooperation.  According to Godec, the building of the pipeline is one out of many areas US is seeking to partner, in order to assist in extracting Kenya’s oil. He noted that the partnership will have to move past government to government and into public-private partnership for Kenya to become aware of her full energy potential.

“Kenya needs probably $14-18 billion worth of financing so one of questions we are discussing is how we can work together as the private sector and government.”

Energy Cabinet Secretary, Charles Keter, however revealed that Kenyans were eager to start profiting from oil finds and was conscious of the fact that extraction is a capital demanding affair and cooperation will be needed in that area.

“The exploration, discovery of oil was done in 2012 and people are asking when are we going to be one of the net exporters of oil and I think that is a very crucial area; we need to fast track it so that we lower the cost of fuel in the country,” he told Capital FM News.