Involve local communities in Uganda–Kenya oil pipeline negotiations

The ancient Amos of the Bible (Amos 3:3) once asked “Can two walk together without agreeing on the direction?

Indeed, the battle line is already drawn. Locals and international stakeholders have come out guns blazing accusing the government of Kenya for side-lining them in the ongoing Uganda-Kenya oil pipeline deal. President Uhuru Kenyatta and his government have already been trashed by Turkana county local leaders and Members of Parliament from the region accusing him of rushing to enter deals with the neighbouring Uganda without consulting them. The MPs demands the pipeline negotiations up until when they have been integrated into the negotiations. The locals now want the government to put in place proper infrastructure including laws of compensation etc. before entering any oil export deal with any company in the world. They demand locals and international stakeholder’s integration into the deal and this makes a lot of sense.