Turkana MPs vow to block oil drilling if pledges not fulfilled

Workers at Ngamia 1 oil rig in Turkana County. PHOTO | FILE 

By EDWIN MUTAI, emutai@ke.nationmedia.com

Turkana MPs have vowed to block the sale of Kenya’s crude oil unless fresh infrastructure is laid in the county and their consent sought.

Kenya aims to start small-scale crude oil production from fields in Turkana next year and has started work on road and rail infrastructure that will be used to transport it.

The MPs also vowed not to allow Tullow Oil to exploit the oil resources in Ngamia exploration blocks before the Petroleum Bill, Energy Bill and Community Land Bill are enacted into law.

The Bills show how proceeds from crude oil will be shared between the government, local communities and firms.

“We will not allow our oil to be exploited without clear laws governing production, sharing of royalties between the national government, explorers and local community and compensation of land,” Christopher Nakuleu, the Turkana North MP said.

The MPs at the same time claimed President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni had sidelined the community in the discussions on the construction of an oil pipeline from Hoima, Lokichar, Isiolo to Lamu.

“Our position is clear; nobody will talk about oil without talking to us, the affected community. The Constitution is clear about public participation. Oil issue is dangerous. One person cannot make decisions. Countries have gone to war because of oil and other natural resources,” Turkana East MP Nicholas Ngikor said.

In 2013, Tullow suspended operations following protests from residents, supported by local politicians, demanding more jobs and other benefits.

The protests  highlight the challenges which firms face in managing local expectations of swift returns as they seek to build an oil and gas industry from scratch in Kenya and east Africa, a hot new region for oil and natural gas.

The MPs said the government had not delivered on its pledges to construct dams, irrigation schemes and water pans for the pastoralist community.

They also accused the executive of unilaterally making plans to transport crude oil without consulting Turkana leaders.

The Energy and Petroleum Ministry says it is proceeding with plans to start small scale production by next year, and that roads connecting the oilfields to Eldoret were being improved, along with a railway line from Eldoret to the port city of Mombasa.

Rail operator Rift Valley Railways has been offered the transport contract.

“With oil prices at $30, Tullow will be able to produce about 2,000 barrels per day. But they are not going to go into full-scale production for commercialisation,” Energy and Petroleum Minister Charles Keter said recently.

Tanzania and Uganda’s presidents last month said the two countries were planning to build a pipeline from Ugandan oil fields to the Tanzanian coast, a move that could strike a blow to Kenyan pipeline plans.