The government has been urged to introduce an oil spill levy for all oil imports.

A workshop on maritime laws review was yesterday told that the revenue from the levy would be used to control pollution, especially oil spills.

National Museums of Kenya official Abzein Alawy told the task force on the review of maritime laws that the levy would help the government, which has not set aside any money to deal with pollution from oil spills.

The suggestion was supported by other stakeholders who said there was an urgent need for the government to establish mechanisms to deal with the pollution. The seminar was held at the Bandari College, Mombasa.

A Kenya Ports Authority manager, Mr Peter Birir, said even the ports authority did not have such a budget. Mr Birir said there were no regulations on the port's responsibility on pollution control.

"There is no clear provision concerning the extent of KPA's responsibility on pollution issues, " Mr Birir said.