Community protests oil exploration in Wajir, cites isolation

WAJIR COUNTY: The quest for oil and gas exploration at Badada location in Wajir County has been met with opposition from a local community protesting lack of consultations and being sidelined by the prospecting company.

Canadian firm, Taipan Resource Incorporation, is to carry out exploration activities in Badada Block 2B.

But the local Ajuran community which claim to be indigenous of the area have petitioned the national and the Wajir County government to put on hold the explorations until their grievances are addressed.

Through their lawyer Hassan Bulle, the community is demanding full disclosure of the agreement details entered between the company and the county government.

"The issue of compensation and environmental mitigations has not been addressed", reads petition adding that it is not clear how the indigenous community will benefit from jobs and tenders.

According to Ibrahim Sheikh Mohamud, a community leader, the company has so far not involved the indigenous community in jobs and tender opportunities.

"Virtually all jobs and contractors have been given to people who are not indigenous of Wajir West Constituency which may disrupt the fragile inter clan harmony in the area", he said.

Wajir director of communication Yahya Mohamed when contact for comments said “Oil exploration is national government issue and any community, which feels it has some concerns over the activity, should seek redress with the Ministry of Energy, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the company involved.”

He possed: “The community (Ajuran) is not even the indigenous people in the area. The area, where the exploration is to occur is a cosmopolitan area, why are we not having other communities who are also there complaining?”

An attempt to get a comment from the company was futile as Richard Leach, the field operations manager said “I’m currently in a meeting and I can’t speak to you”.