Raila: I will make sure Turkana benefits from oil if NASA wins

NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga addresses a rally at Moi Stadium in Lodwar Town on Thursday. [Dennis Kavisu, Standard]

Opposition leader Raila Odinga Thursday said he will ensure residents of Turkana benefit fully from exploration of oil if NASA wins the August 8 elections.

Raila, who was accompanied by his co-principals at Moi Stadium in Lodwar, said he would sign the Petroleum and Exploration Bill into law to ensure locals are not exploited.

He accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of rejecting the Bill for his own selfish gains.

Raila said the Jubilee administration had not done anything to address poverty, which he said was still high in the region despite existence of massive resources.

“You should not be suffering because of poverty. Your county is endowed with resources, which include huge deposits of minerals and oil. NASA will bring change if you elect us in the coming elections,” said Raila. 

Rightful share

He added: “The people of Turkana are not supposed to be poor. That is why I will sign the Petroleum Bill into law. You are poor because of years of marginalisation and this is what we want to end. We want to ensure residents get their rightful share of resources.”

Raila said his government would use the water aquifers that were recently discovered in the area to start irrigation projects to boost food insecurity.

“Other than growing crops, these aquifers will ensure pastoralists don’t lose their livestock during drought,” said Raila, who was flanked by his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka, Bungoma senator Moses Wetang’ula and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi.

He added: “This region has resources that have not been effectively tapped to transform the lives of residents. There is an underground water reservoir that can supply the county with water for the next 70 years. It has adequate minerals, meaning there should be no poverty. Your livestock should not die due to scarcity of water.”

Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok said despite abundant resources in the county, poverty levels were still high.

“This year, I was insulted by the President because I asked him to sign the Petroleum Bill into law without altering it. We need 30 per cent but the Jubilee Government refused to enact it into law. Give Raila a chance and we will get our 30 per cent revenue share,” said Nanok.

An angry President Kenyatta, while on a tour of the region, had a run-in with the governor. 

Uhuru sought to clarify he had no interest in the oil and accused the Opposition of spreading rumours about him.

The President said those telling them he had interest in their oil were misleading them for their own selfish interests.

“I don’t pass laws in Parliament, I just sign Bills into law. When election time comes, we will come and ask for your votes. And the world will not end, whether you vote for us or not,” he said.

Raila said Uhuru was only paying attention to the region because of oil.

“Officials of the Jubilee administration are currently moving around the county because they have interests in the oil. They are claiming they are launching projects worth billions of shillings yet they do not have a budget for such projects,” said Raila in Kakuma.

Controversy has been raging over sharing of oil proceeds in the county. Initially, the county government had planned to get 20 per cent and local communities 10 per cent before the figures were reduced.

The President declined to append his signature on the Bill, directing that the share of the community be reduced to five per cent.

“We have been getting leftovers, but with NASA in power, we are assured of a seat at the high table like other Kenyans,” Nanok said.

Kalonzo said: “Jubilee is busy eating meat as the rest of Kenyan salivate. But when we get to power, we will ensure every Kenyan gets meat. We will ensure the people’s rights will be taken care of.”

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