- CS Munyes blamed the Turkana county government for not working with the national government and helping it acquire land from the community.
- The crude oil pipeline is supposed to cross six counties including Turkana, Samburu, Isiolo, Meru, Garisa and Lamu.
Image: HESBORN ETYANG
Petroleum CS John Munyes has urged Turkana leaders to stop blocking land aquisition for Lapsset's oil pipeline.
He told the Star in an interview on Tuesday the project is being fought by Turkana leaders who want to derail the dreams of Kenyans to join the oil exporting countries.
The crude oil pipeline is to cross six counties, including Turkana, Samburu, Isiolo, Meru, Garisa and Lamu. It's part of the Lamu Port-Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) project.
Speaking in Lodwar, CS Munyes urged residents to allow the national government to acquire land to construct the pipeline carrying crude oil from the Lokichar Basin to Mombasa. It will transport at least 80,000 barrels a day.
Last year in March, the Turkana county government moved to court seeking conservatory orders to stop implementation of the National Land decision allowing compulsory land acquisition.
“You can’t imagine all counties agreed to offer land for the pipeline but Turkana, the biggest beneficiary, is stopping it," the CS said.
He blamed the county government for not working closely with the national government to acquire land.
“I appeal to all leaders, this is our dream. We need to support this project. Apart from the pipeline, we will get water from Turkwel Dam in West Pokot and use it for irrigation as water will be piped in Turkana South and Turkana East," the official said.
“Why should leaders stop an underground pipeline that doesn’t even affect livestock production? Do you just want to stop it for ill motives?” Munyes asked.
He said the government must take land for the project because it's a matter of national interest, adding there's a 15-month timeline to complete the work.
“The land doesn’t belong to leaders, it belongs to all Kenyans. I understand there's a compensation issue but you can't stop a national project that will help all citizens," the CS said.
"We are all benefiting from the Mombasa port, coffee plantations and maize in other regions and therefore we need to support the government to complete the pipeline," Munyes said.
He said the National Land Commission will handle compensation according to law.
In Turkana the land is communal and individuals don't have title deeds for compensation, so the land commission will pay the county that will sort out payment. People fear the compensation will be insignificant.
CS Munyes said the Covid-19 pandemic has slowed down oil exploration in Turkana. He said the pandemic might push back Kenya's oil exporting from 2022 to 2024
“Oil exploration was successful in Turkana, we trucked crude oil that was marketed and went through the pilot marketing phase. The client suspended operation due to the pandemic and international issues such as low crude oil prices and the problem affecting Tullow Oil in West Africa,” the CS said.
He said the government in conjunction with Tullow Oil decided to suspend oil exploration in the Turkana basin.
Munyes said the government's contract with Tullow was coming to an end but a 15-month extension was granted to enable the company to finish preparations leading to a final investment decision.
“In 15 months it will be a clean-up to finalise the first phase of upstream and get to midstream, that’s the construction of pipeline from Lokichar to Lamu,” he said.
In August, Tullow lifted its declaration of force majeure [unforeseeable circumstances] on its main licence in Kenya, a move that was feared would further delay the final investment decision expected this year.
(Edited by V. Graham)