Residents of Lokori and Katilia in Turkana County have appealed to Gulf Energy to prioritise corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects, ensuring that local communities directly benefit from oil extraction activities in the region.
Residents noted that the community has lived on the land for generations, with limited economic activities beyond livestock keeping. They believe that oil presents a rare opportunity for economic empowerment and regional equalisation with the rest of the country.
They identified several priority areas requiring urgent intervention from the investor to improve their living standards.
At the top of their concerns is access to water, with residents calling for the drilling of boreholes to address persistent water shortages. They said water scarcity affects both household use and livestock while limiting opportunities for irrigation.
According to locals, some residents are forced to walk long distances for several hours in search of water, which is often insufficient to meet basic household needs.
Education was also highlighted as a key concern, with calls for the establishment of more schools across the county and expansion of existing institutions.
Residents said many children have dropped out of school due to a lack of fees and uniforms, opting instead to remain at home or engage in herding.
They urged Gulf Energy to increase scholarship opportunities to improve access to education for children from the community.
The establishment of health facilities was another request, with residents expressing concern over limited access to healthcare and potential health risks associated with oil extraction activities.
Currently, residents travel long distances to seek medical care, a situation they said has led to preventable deaths.
They cited cases of patients, including snakebite victims, dying while attempting to reach distant health facilities.
By Peter Gitonga
