By Evelyn Kwamboka and Nicholas Anyuor
Indications are increasing by the day that large part of Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley regions could be floating on a vast oilfield.
The company that earlier this year excited the country with news that it had discovered large quantities of oil in Turkana, Tullow Oil Plc, has intensified the search for the black gold in Nyanza.
It hopes to complete the exploration in less than 10 years.
Tullow has already started working on the preliminary stages of the project within the mapped areas that are believed to contain oil deposits.
The initial survey will cover Nyakach, Suba, Rachuonyo, Nyando, Bondo, Homa Bay, Kericho, Nandi, Vihiga and Busia.
The company recently held a consultative meeting with a group of leaders from Nyanza.
Officials from the Ministry of Energy attended the meeting together with MPs Pollyins Ochieng (Nyakach), Otieno Kajwang’ (Mbita) Fred Outa (Nyando) and Martin Ogindo (Rangwe).
Selecting sites
The company told the leaders it was in the process of contracting a surveyor before computing data and selecting sites.
It also said a production contract for exploration of oil has already been signed with local communities.
The contract, which has been lodged with the Ministry of Energy and the Parliamentary Committee on energy, gives local communities the right to be engaged throughout the exploration to be carried out by the Canadian company.
