Fresh row erupts over oil drilling
What you need to know:
- Tullow Oil has identified the more than 7,000 km² Block 12A, in the Kerio Valley belt, which runs across Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo counties.
- Over the weekend during a media briefing at an Eldoret hotel, the oil company assured the residents that they will not lose their land.
A fresh row has erupted over the planned oil drilling in Kerio Valley with residents saying they were not involved in negotiations.
Tullow Oil has identified the more than 7,000 km² Block 12A, in the Kerio Valley belt, which runs across Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo counties, as the potential areas for oil exploration, with the drilling set to start in January 2015 following the conclusion of seismic surveys in February.
INVOLVE COMMUNITY
Addressing the Press in Eldoret on Tuesday, a man claiming to be the Elgeyo-Marakwet secretary Justine Kurui said they were not opposed to the project, which is set to change lives, but asked the oil firm to follow the law by involving the local people in all their affairs.
However, over the weekend during a media briefing at an Eldoret hotel, the oil company assured the residents that they will not lose their land.
Tullow Kenya social performance manager Robbert Gerrits and environmental manager Alex Mutiso said that access to land would only be required on a temporary basis.
