Turkana residents witness transportation of crude oil in Turkana to Mombasa flagged off by President Uhuru Kenyatta. A group of Turkana residents has called on the government to reveal the names of 516 owners of oilfields to be compensated in the South Lokichar oil basin.
The state is expected to pay out billions of shillings to more than 516 landowners after British exploration firm Tullow Oil presented a clearer plan for oil production in the basin.
Residents, led by Eliud Emery, president of the county Civil Society Organisation, opposed compensation. He said the county government and residents were not involved. Deserving people were left out, he said. We question how the list was developed, who did it, when was it done and how have they valued the land. Emery also said they oppose the construction of infrastructure on the land.
“We support the Turkana county government to oppose the decision of the national government to pay the landowners of oil fields in the South Lokichar oil basin,” Emery said.
“We are questioning how the list was developed, who did it, when was it done and how have they valued the land," he said.
He urged the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining to go back to the drawing board and start negotiations with the Turkana government and residents to reach a fairer agreement.
Peter Erupe said they only know the Turkana county government as the custodian of their land since Turkana land is community land.
“Who are these landowners of oil fields who are supposed to be compensated by the state? We have never been contacted for negotiations over the compensation of the land yet we own the land,” he said.
He urged the government to involve residents on all matters of oil production for purposes of transparency.
Last week, Governor Josphat Nanok said the planned acquisition of land for oil production in the South Lokichar oil basin was illegal.
Nanok cited disregard for the lawful procedure for the acquisition of community land. His remarks came after the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining announced it would pay landowners of 516 oil fields in the county."Turkana land is community land, and all bids to acquire land have to be inclusive of all stakeholders—the community and the county government, which hold the land in trust. The plan by the Ministry of Petroleum is, therefore, illegal, null and void," he said.The county chief promised to stand firm to defend community land rights."Those who […]
