UK Tullow’s drilling plans in Kerio Valley face hostility

Money Markets

Addressing a press conference in Eldoret September 30, 2014, residents led by Kerio Valley community secretary Justine Kurui (centre) threatened to block oil exploration project by Tullow Oil, claiming they had not been involved in negotiations. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By WYCLIFF KIPSANG and EVERLYNE SIMIYU

In Summary

• Tullow has identified a 7,000-kilometre square parcel dubbed Block 12A in the Kerio Valley belt running across Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo counties for oil exploration.
• Oil drilling is set to commence in January 2015 after conclusion of seismic surveys conducted in February, but concerns over unsurveyed land is raising anxiety among residents.

The planned drilling by Tullow Oil in Kerio Valley appears to have run into headwinds as residents threatened to block the project, claiming they had not been involved in negotiations.

This is the second time Tullow is running into similar trouble after last year’s standoff in Turkana that disrupted activities for days over employment and contracts demand for locals.

READ: Oil exploration in Turkana resumes as workers end strike

The UK-based firm has identified a 7,000-kilometre square parcel dubbed Block 12A in the Kerio Valley belt running across Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo counties for oil exploration.

Oil drilling is set to commence in January 2015 after conclusion of seismic surveys conducted in February, but concerns over unsurveyed land is raising anxiety among residents.

READ: Search for oil deposits starts in Kerio Valley

Addressing a press conference in Eldoret Tuesday, residents told Tullow to follow the law by involving them. But Tullow said it had held talks last week with residents’ representatives over the matter.

Fear

The residents led by Kerio Valley community secretary Justine Kurui demanded the government issues residents with land ownership documents. Mr Kurui said residents have lived without title deeds for years.

“Our people fear they will not benefit much from the project as land in the area is still owned communally. 

“The government should act with speed and ensure people from this region get land ownership title deeds so that come compensation time, each one of them benefits,” said Mr Kurui.

He dismissed Tullow claims that 60 per cent of the more than 3,000 people it employs are from local communities, saying these were largely casual labourers, watchmen and cooks.

“The community of Kerio Valley demands that Tullow Oil makes available the list of its staff working at their head office for auditing in order to establis