Turkana leaders demand openness in government deals with Tullow Oil

Turkana leaders have called for transparency in the way the national government handles Tullow Oil’s petroleum activities as one way of guaranteeing smooth operations.

The leaders, including Governor Josphat Nanok, Senator Malachy Ekal and MPs James Lomenen and Daniel Epuyo have questioned the “quick” gazettement of land in oil fields in preparation for compulsory acquisition.

Mr Nanok said that community land issues were emotive and “ought to be handled in the right way that brings the community together to move on the same track with government plans and investors.

“The National Land Commission issued a gazette notice to compulsorily acquire huge tracts of land in Turkana East and Turkana South for a pipeline and oil processing facility. It is my feeling that due process hasn’t been followed,” Mr Nanok said. He was speaking at a conference that discussed extractives in Turkana county which kicked off in Lodwar town on Tuesday.

He said that the county government and the community were not informed of the move even though issues concerning community land were in court.

“There is a need to resolve the issues now before the targets of 2021 oil export plans are pushed forward. Unfortunately, these are not issues that can be overlooked,” said Mr Nanok.

Mr Lomenen claimed there was a scramble for Turkana. “We want to make it clear that the land is communal. No one has mandate to gazette it without the county government’s nod.”