It might take court action to resolve a dispute involving the Turkana government, residents and a local company jostling for a share of Sh258 million in oil revenue.
Community Land Management Committee representatives from Kapese, Lokichar and Kasuroi have threatened to move to court to seek justice.
The Turkana government, Turkana Extractives Consortium and Tullow Oil Company are at the centre of the dispute.
Aule Esikiria, chairperson of the Kapese village community land management committee said they have faced challenges trying to ascertain how the money was spent.
He said Tullow Oil Company claimed the funds were set aside for levies, rates, and taxes.
Aule said the Land Act 2016 empowers CLMCs to sue the Turkana government if land rates are not paid to the host community.
The Community Land Management Committee insists that the money allocated for rates should directly benefit the residents of Kapese, Lokichar, and Kasuroi.
“Way back in 2011 to 2015, the county used all the money, but from 2016, the land rates should benefit people within oil extraction areas,” he expressed.
Peter Ewesit, who chairs Kasuroi CLMC, said the county government understands the roles of the committees regarding the Land Act 2016. He said the land rates should be paid to the host community
Veronica Lotesiro, a resident of Lokichar, said the county government should act as a custodian of the money paid to the community by Tullow Company.
She requested the Turkana government to allow the land committees from Kapese, Lokichar, and Kasuroi sufficient time to complete all registration procedures before they receive any money in their accounts.
Lotesiro praised Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai for promising to account for every cent.
Geoffrey Ariong said disputes involving the community, Turkana government and Tullow Oil company have brought about confusion, leading the Turkana Extractives Consortium to seek further juridical interpretation from the court of law.
“I believe that an interpretation that will come from the court of law will shed light on the stand of the community land and who is at fault in this matter,” he said.
The Community Land Management Committee members pleaded with the county government to consider paying host community land rates from 2016 to date.
