Oil exploration kicks off as locals fear losing land
What you need to know:
- But residents of Kerio Valley have threatened to block the exercise in court if the government fails to issue them with title deeds to ensure they benefit fully from the project. Land in the area is owned communally.
- Local leaders led by members of county assembly Joseph Makilap (Barwessa) and Johana Chebon (Kabarnet) want Tullow to abide by all agreements made before embarking on the project to avoid conflicts.
Tullow Kenya has formerly started exploration of oil in Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties even as locals expressed fears of losing land.
The oil company, last February, carried out seismic surveys in the two counties and identified “Block 12 A” in the Kerio Valley belt, which runs across the two counties, as potential area for exploratory oil drilling.
The company is already holding sensitisation meetings with local leaders and other stakeholders as required before actual drilling can start.
The consultative meetings started Monday and run until October 3, where the locals interact directly with Tullow representatives and the technical team conducting the study.
But residents of Kerio Valley have threatened to block the exercise in court if the government fails to issue them with title deeds to ensure they benefit fully from the project. Land in the area is owned communally.
“We also want a clear policy on how we will benefit from the project. Our crops have been destroyed and we’ve not been compensated,” said Kipsoit resident Mr Zephaniah Chebet.
The sessions will include meetings with the governors and county executives, MPs, public sector agencies including the Kenya Wildlife Service and the National Environment Management Authority, community-based organizations and non-governmental organizations, among others.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
This came as the oil firm acquired the services of a Kenyan firm to carry out the mandatory Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
“Tullow has contracted an independent Kenya-based environmental management consultancy firm, ESF Consultants, to carry out the study,” said Ms Mercy Kabangi, a communications advisor at Tullow Kenya.
“Our activities are guided by respect for the property, culture, values and way of life of the communities we work with as well as by the highest environmental, health and safety standards,” Ms Kabangi said in a media dispatch.
The ESIA is a mandatory requirement by the Environmental Management Act 1999, to identify potential impacts of the drilling works as well as appropriate mitigation measures where required.
Local leaders led by members of county assembly Joseph Makilap (Barwessa) and Johana Chebon (Kabarnet) want Tullow to abide by all agreements made before embarking on the project to avoid conflicts.
The agreements include opening up of roads in the area.
“We will not tolerate a situation where of our people are shortchanged. We should avoid a repeat of what was witnessed in Turkana,” Mr Chebon recently during a public baraza which was also attended by Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi and Tullow representatives.
Ms Kabangi said an extensive awareness exercise will also be conducted with members of the local communities.
“We are committed to working with all stakeholders to promote the growth of a vibrant and responsible oil industry in Kenya,” she said.
