The exploration for oil in Isiolo officially kicked off Wednesday as the China National Off-shore Oil Corporation, CNOOC, begun drilling a five kilometers well in Boghal area of Isiolo. 

Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi has however warned Kenyans that it is too early to celebrate, saying oil has not yet been struck.

"Kenya has set out its industrialisation agenda ... to expand her energy sector to reach at least 10,000 MW by 2030," he told CNOOC officials at the spudding ceremony, which was moved to a Nairobi hotel because of heavy rains at the site.

Ten wells have been drilled so far in the Anza Basin, but only to a maximum depth of 3,000 metres.

"Boghal-1 is expected to yield many times more data (for) future exploration work than has been obtained from any other oil wells so far drilled in the country," Murungi said, adding that Kenyans should not get excited too soon.

"It will take CNOOC not less than six months before results from the well are known ... I therefore appeal for patience."

He asked the community around the exploration area to accord the Chinese parastatal necessary cooperation as they seek to establish whether there is oil or gas.

The agreement between the Chinese company and the government was signed in April 2006 and allows the company to recover its costs once it strikes oil in the area.

The exploration, which is expected to take six months, will cost close to two billion shillings.

The spudding in of the Boghal 1 well is expected to go 5,000 metres