Oil Deals in Turkana

MPs from Turkana County want the Government to make a full disclosure of the deal it entered with Tullow Oil Company among other demands.
Ekwe Ethuro of Turkana Central and Josephat Nanok of Turkana South said unless all the deals leading to the discovery of oil in Ngamia1 Block 10BB are laid bare, members of Turkana County will go to court to force full disclosure.
Speaking at Parliament Buildings, the two MPs said they were aware of shady deals that involved senior Cabinet ministers and their permanent secretaries, who may have fleeced the country and Turkana County of more than Sh3 billion.
"We will not allow another scam in the name of ‘Turkana Oil Scandal’. We demand for transparency and accountability in the process of oil management so that all Kenyans benefit from this resource," said Ethuro.
He asked why some community lands and mining rights were sold at exorbitant prices while not a single shilling trickled down to the residents. The Government has also not disclosed how much it received.
Nanok said the people concerned took advantage of famine when Kenyans were fundraising for hungry Turkana people to strike the deal.
"This is the worst impunity of its kind to have been wrought on the people of Turkana County," said Nanok. He added: "We demand to know all the companies involved, how much money the Government made, and how land and rights were mortgaged. If there are illegalities, those involved should own up."

Economic growthThe two were reacting to media information that Turkana Drilling Company, a firm linked to Trade Minister Moses Wetangula made more than Sh840 million, while African Oil Company sold 50 per cent of its shares to Tullow for Sh2 billion.
Ethuro said the oil discovery is an opportunity for the Government to invigorate economic growth for Turkana people, who since independence have been neglected resulting in underdevelopment, chronic poverty, insecurity and drought. Other demands are that the Government expedites the amendment of relevant clauses of the petroleum Acts to conform to devolution and to amend the mining laws.
Further, they demand for environmental impact assessment to evaluate the impact of exploration to the community.