Plans to revive Oil production in Turkana County are in top gear after the government and officials of a new company – Gulf Energy – engaged with residents for two days of intensive public participation.

Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi and his counterpart for East African Affairs and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Beatrice Askul led high ranking government officials in a series of consultative meetings in Lodwar, Lokichar, Lokori and Nakukulas to inform the public of the government’s new plans to revive oil production in the county.

Local leaders, including Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, his Deputy John Erus, Turkana East Member of Parliament Nicholas Ng’ikor, John Ariko (Turkana South MP) and a host of MCAs attended and addressed the meetings.

The members of the public had an opportunity to openly share their expectations and demands ahead of the production phase. Among notable issues included land compensation, supplying water to area residents, revenue sharing, job opportunities for the locals among others.

Cabinet Secretary Wandayi said the government had confidence in Gulf Energy’s capacity to continue with the project, after Tullow Oil plc exited. He said the government was keen to ensure that Oil start being transported from the County before the end of next year.

“The government is keen to revive the project, so local residents and the entire country can reap the benefits of the oil production, he said in Lokori, Turkana East Sub County.

Cabinet Secretary Askul asked the residents to embrace investors for the county to realise economic and social development and further urged residents to avoid being divided, to ensure they benefit from the project.

Concerns over the sharing of the revenue were also expressed with Cabinet Secretary Wandayi assuring that the law on Oil revenue sharing had addressed the matter. Wandayi said according to the law, the national government would receive 75 percent of the revenue generated, County government 20 percent and the host community five percent.

Turkana East MP, Nicholas Ng’ikor, called for construction of Roads that will be used in oil transportation from the County.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Peter Gitonga

Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi during a public meeting in Lokichar.

Residents of Lokichar during a meeting that sought to introduce members of Gulf Energy to the community in Lokichar.