- Eliud Emery, president of the Civil Society Organisation, opposed state plans to compensate 516 landowners, saying county and residents not involved.
- He urged Ministry of Petroleum to return to drawing board and start talks with county government and residents for a fair payout agreement.
Image: HESBORN ETYANG
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.Eliud Emery, head of CSO
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 think they can come and do this when I am in government should know that it will not happen. I ask those eyeing the governor's seat not to allow it to happen," he said.
Only the county government, as the custodian of community land, and the National Land Commission, representing the national government, have the authority to make decisions on land acquisition, Nanok said.
He warned NGOs against engagements with the community on land without involving the county government.
He said his administration will soon hold a stakeholders engagement forum on land use, starting with Lodwar municipality, to decide how to manage county land.
Nanok reassured residents of his commitment to service delivery and completion of development projects before his term ends next year.
Recently, Energy PS Andrew Kamau said preparations for the compensation payouts would start.
“The work in Turkana begins...now that we have better clarity, we can go ahead and acquire that land, purchasing it from the people who are there,” he said.
He had previously met Rahil Dhir and Keith Hill, who are the CEOs of Tullow Oil and Africa Oil, respectively.
Tullow and Africa Oil have a joint venture for the Turkana oil project. Tullow officials said the exploration firm had stepped up the search for a strategic partner to help implement a development plan for oil production.
This will pave the way for the development of a pipeline and oil processing facility in the basin that includes a $3.4 billion ( Sh373.6 billion) investment for upstream activities.
Land acquisition for the Lokichar-Lamu pipeline was set for last year but faced problems because local leaders were opposed.
In 2019, the Turkana government sought court orders to stop the implementation of NLC’s decision to acquire the indigenous ethnic land. Governor Nanok and Turkana South MP James Lomenen complained about the lack of transparency.
(Edited by V. Graham)