Oil spill response is expensive. It can be extraordinarily expensive for developing countries due to scarce financial resources and competing priorities. In realization of this, response capabilities are scaled in a cascading manner from Tier 1 to Tier 3 where additional support may be acquired. Countries are encouraged to form mutual agreements to surmount these challenges. What began as the National Oil Pollution Committee in 1989 and later registered as a mutual aid society, offers a model for structuring of mutual aid arrangements for developing countries.

The structuring of Oil Spill Mutual Aid Group (OSMAG) Society has over time been recognized as a resilient model of preparedness and response by various African countries with many seeking to establish similar arrangements. It is a unique model not (to the best of our knowledge) witnessed anywhere else in the world. It involves unique cooperation between industry, community & public interest groups, and government. OSMAG Mutual aid arrangements range from prevention, preparedness, and response within Kenya.

The history and evolution of the mutual aid arrangements in Kenya are outlined with an eventual discussion of the structure and organization of Oil Spill Mutual Aid Group (OSMAG) Society in Kenya. The role of OSMAG Society in prevention, preparedness, and response to oil spills in Kenya is discussed in this paper. Cooperation and coordination mechanisms amongst the various stakeholders especially, the Kenya Maritime Authority and the Kenya Ports Authority are discussed. Challenges regarding stakeholder coordination & cooperation, spill risk and disproportionate impact, funding, response resources, and capacity building, specifically faced by OSMAG and Kenya, and generally by developing countries are explored and lessons learnt presented.

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