Plans to revive oil production in Turkana County are in top gear after the government and officials of a new company, Gulf Energy, engaged residents for two days of intensive public participation.
Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi and his counterpart in charge of East African Affairs and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, Beatrice Askul, led high-ranking government officials in a series of meetings held in Lodwar, Lokichar, Lokori and Nakukulas that aimed to inform the public of the government’s new plans to revive oil production in the county.
Area leaders, including Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, his Deputy Dr John Erus, Turkana East Member of Parliament (MP) Nicholas Ng’ikor, Dr John Ariko (Turkana South) and a host of MCAs, attended and addressed the meetings.
The members of the public had an opportunity to openly share their expectations and demands ahead of the production phase.
Among notable issues were land compensation, supplying water to area residents, revenue sharing, and job opportunities for the locals, among others.
CS Wandayi said the government had confidence in the new company, Gulf Energy’s ability to continue with the project, after Tullow Oil plc exited.
He said the government was keen to ensure that oil starts being transported from the county before the end of next year.
“The government is keen to revive the project so that the county residents and the entire country can start to reap the benefits of the oil production,” he said in Lokori, Turkana East Sub-county.
CS Askul asked the residents to embrace investors for the county to realise development and further urged residents to avoid being divided to ensure they benefit from the project.
Concerns over the sharing of the revenue were also expressed, with CS Wandayi assuring that the law on oil revenue sharing had addressed the matter. Wandayi said according to the law, the national government would receive 75 per cent of the revenue generated, the county government 20 per cent and the host community five per cent.
Turkana East MP Nicholas Ng’ikor called for the construction of roads that will be used in oil transportation from the county.
By Peter Gitonga
