Road to wealth in oil-rich Turkana County still bumpy as locals protest

Turkana residents protest following recent conflicts between the community and Tullow oil. (Photo:Standard)

By Vincent Bartoo

Turkana, Kenya: All is not well in the cradle of mankind, where Kenya’s hopes for better days ahead lie.

Turkana County, which has always been considered Kenya’s poorest region, is on the verge of crossing the Rubicon to riches if the discovery in the area of oil and huge underground water reserves is anything to go by.

However, this transformation will be complete only if exploration of the two resources is successfully done. And here is where the problem lies.

A week ago, local MPs James Lomenen (Turkana South) and Nicholas Ng’ikor (Turkana East) led locals in a protest march to the oil fields, prompting the suspension of oil drilling in the region.

They were protesting alleged discrimination in employment, tenders and transport contracts by Tullow Oil Company that is exploring the oil.

The placard-waving Turkana residents stormed oil rigs in the area, causing apprehension and the subsequent decision by Tullow to halt operations, fearing for the safety of employees.

It cited blocks 10BB and 13T, where operations were shut down as a precautionary measure, as the most affected.

 Although the MPs say the demonstrations were peaceful, police say the protestors looted the oil rigs and destroyed property.

Incitement charges

To this effect, the MPs, who had sought a permit for the demonstrations and subsequently led them, are to be arrested and charged with incitement and robbery with violence.

The two MPs were last week summoned to Turkana County CID offices where they were grilled before the charges were preferred.

However, the MPs went into hiding and their scheduled appearance in a magistrate’s court in Lodwar last Friday aborted.

Tension was high outside the courts as locals planned further demonstrations to protest against what they termed unfair persecution of their leaders.

Anti-riot police had to be deployed around the courts as agitated locals demanded to be told the whereabouts of their MPs.

They camped at the courts for the better part of Friday before they were told that the case had been referred to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko in Nairobi.

A judicial officer who requested anonymity told The Standard the local court would proceed with the cases at the DPP’s direction.

The source revealed that such cases bordering on political inclination are personally handled by the DPP owing to their sensitive nature.

“It is now up to the DPP to decide whether the case should proceed, be terminated, be transferred to Nairobi or heard here based on the dynamics and logistics at hand,” the source noted.

The officer added that Tobiko would also consider the gravity of having the case heard in Lodwar, noting that it has already elicited sharp reactions from sections of the community.

Speaking to The Standard in Lodwar on arrival from a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi, the MPs denied accusations levelled against them by the police.

 The accusations included claims that the MPs had incited locals to flush out non-locals and expatriates working for Tullow Oil and other firms contracted by the company.

Lomenen sharply refuted claims that the demonstrations had criminal motives, defending locals against claims of looting, and instead pointing an accusing finger at Tullow Oil staff for the missing equipment and damage to other facilities.

“What I know is that some children sneaked into the Agede oil rig in search of mineral water but no property was looted or damaged by locals since I was present at the scene,” said the MP.

He also condemned allegations that they had demanded eviction of other Kenyan tribes from the site, terming it falsified information since they had co-existed with other Kenyans for the past three years.

“Demonstrations are normal, they are constitutional. I cannot tell expatriates to pack and go unless I have lost my mind. But ultimately, it should be noted that I sometimes receive pressure from my constituents to act,” the MP explained.

Lomenen also denied accusations of having vested interests in the oil exploration.

“I invite any investigations into whether I have vested interests. My interests are those of the community. Even so, Tullow is a private company and anyone in the community could have an interest in its affairs without that being perceived to be a conflict of interest,” he said.

Tullow Oil has maintained that it takes its relationship with the local community “extremely seriously”.

“The decision to suspend exploration was taken to prevent further escalation of the demonstrations,” it said in a statement sent to newsrooms.

The company said it shut down operations to pave the way for discussions to resolve the issues raised by the Turkana.

“We are working closely with the local communities and county and national governments so that the company can resume work on Blocks 10BB and 13T as soon as possible,” it added.

The company said that currently, it employed over 800 people from the Turkana region out of the 1,400 employees it has in Kenya.

Jackson Nakusa, a local leader and social investment manager at a local company, argues that the most pertinent standoff between Tullow and the local community has to do with lack of a cohesive communications mechanism.

“The Turkana, who have been marginalised for quite some time, have huge expectations that they want implemented expeditiously. But above all, they want to be appreciated and included in the decision-making process,” Nakusa advises.

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