Villagers break into oil base in protest against insecurity
What you need to know:
The residents had first camped at the gate, blocking it with thorny tree branches to paralyse normal operations.
The residents said they were not being incited by any politician but were driven by the pain of losing their loved ones and livestock.
They blocked five trucks transporting oil to Mombasa despite being driven under tight security.
Troubled residents of Turkana East Sub County on Friday broke into Ngamia 8 oil storage site in protest over rampant insecurity on the border of Turkana and Baringo Counties.
The site has storage tanks where oil trucks are being loaded before leaving for Changamwe Refinery in Mombasa.
The residents had first camped at the gate, blocking it with thorny tree branches to paralyse normal operations, before requesting security guards at the gate to allow them to see the monument that was unveiled by President Uhuru Kenyatta to mark the historic Early Oil Pilot Scheme.
After efforts to have security guards attached to a local security firm, Ekosowan Security Express Services (ESES) willingly open the gate became futile, some residents jumped over the gate and others cut a padlocked chain using a hacksaw.
They said they would not allow further oil transportation until President Uhuru returns to Ngamia 8 to relaunch the transportation afresh after security has been beefed up, livestock stolen in four separate raids since June 3 recovered, and the perpetrators prosecuted.
IMPOVERISHED
Mr Geoffrey Long'olekol, a Nakukulas resident, said that for years they have remained impoverished because of insecurity where livestock is stolen by bandits from neighbouring communities and the breadwinners of affected families shot dead.
"We are here at the monument where President Kenyatta marked the historic moment when Kenya became an oil producer, to pass a message that we cannot continue being killed by armed civilians in our own country and yet our oil is transported under tight security," he said.
He added: "Pokots are taking our livestock, yet our oil is leaving for Mombasa. Who will hear us if, despite the President giving a shoot-to-kill order on bandits, we are still being killed."
The residents said they were not being incited by any politician but were driven by the pain of losing their loved ones and livestock.
They said they want to live freely in troubled villages such as Lochakula, Nadome and Silale .
FIVE PER CENT REVENUE
Herder Ekai Etudo said the State should assure them that five per cent of revenue from oil proceeds allocated to the local community is channelled to their bank accounts while the rest of the allocations to the county and national governments is spent on development.
He said they suffered marginalisation and lost livestock during oil exploration period as a result of drinking contaminated water and, therefore, the money should benefit residents individually.
The residents vowed to paralyse operations at all oil sites until attention shifts to issues such as security, jobs and tenders.
Oil transportation was first paralysed by residents of Kalemngorock on the Lokichar-Kapenguria highway on Wednesday. They blocked five trucks transporting oil to Mombasa despite being driven under tight security.
Turkana leaders led by Turkana South MP James Lomenen and Turkana East MP Mohammed Ali Lokiru said the five trucks that were blocked by residents won't leave for Mombasa until all livestock stolen in four separate raids are recovered and bandits who killed residents arrested.
MORE SECURITY
The MPs were accompanied by MCAs James Abei (Katilu), David Erukudi (Lobokat), Peter Edung (Kalapata) and former Turkana South parliamentary seat aspirant Jumapili Elim. They said oil sites and trucks are given more security than the local community.
"The responsibility of any government is secure its citizens and their property. Why is that Turkana residents are being killed in banditry attack and no action is being taken?" Mr Lomenen asked.
"We respected the government and President Uhuru Kenyatta by allowing smooth flagging off of four trucks on June 3. But our demand for security has not been addressed. Instead, more people are being killed near Ngamia 8," he said.
OIL OPERATIONS
He added that the tender to supply fuel for oil operations must be given to a local company, not to a government parastatal.
The leaders said it was ironic that Turkana East and Turkana South Sub Counties, where the oil is, are some of the most insecure places in Kenya. They also asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi to act.
The leaders and residents said they were not opposed to oil transportation but want their demands met.
They said the best security for oil was a satisfied host community.
