Residents of Turkana County are calling on the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Energy to ensure that the wealth generated from oil extraction benefits the local population directly. Locals said they have not gained from past oil ventures, despite the resources being on their land, and want measures to prevent further exclusion. In discussions with the Committee and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), leaders raised concerns over the handling of proceeds from the Early Oil Pilot Scheme (EOPS) carried out by Tullow Oil between 2018 and 2019. County Assembly members said that people living near oil fields, as well as the wider Turkana community, received little benefit from oil sales and warned that the region, long marginalised, must not face further economic injustice.

At a public gathering at Ekalees Centre in Lodwar, residents echoed these demands, insisting on transparency and accountability in managing revenue from crude oil. The Council of Elders submitted a memorandum urging the government to release the EOPS report and put in place systems to guarantee that local communities receive their share of the county’s resources, which they described as their God-given wealth. These concerns arise as Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi seeks to clarify the purpose of the pilot project while plans for full-scale oil production move forward.

According to a Business Daily report, the Cabinet Secretary said the EOPS conducted between 2018 and 2019 was a technical pilot aimed at testing processes, collecting data, and reducing risks, not a commercial production exercise. Beyond revenue concerns, residents also called for enhanced security in the region, citing ongoing conflicts between Turkana and Pokot communities that have persisted for decades. They emphasised the importance of giving local people priority in jobs created by oil exploration, both skilled and unskilled, throughout the supply chain. Committee co-chairs Oburu Odinga and David Gikaria affirmed the community’s position, stressing that those living near oil projects should enjoy real benefits. “It is time we embrace this opportunity and ensure our God-given resources are fully exploited for the benefit of the community and Kenyans at large,” Oburu said. Gikaria added, “Exportation of this commodity will have a direct positive impact on our economy through the strengthening of foreign exchange reserves.”