Kerio Valley oil search in trouble

ELGEYO MARAKWET COUNTY: The search for oil in Kerio Valley hangs in the balance after a local community faced off with an oil prospecting company, Tullow Oil plc, over compensation.

For the last one week, Tullow staff have faced a hostile reception from residents during stakeholder forums in Salawa and Barwesa, two areas that had been earmarked for exploration and possible discovery of oil that could lead to drilling.

Most of the land in Baringo and especially Kerio Valley is communally owned and held in trust by the county government, which means no one has valid documents to prove ownership.

Owing to this, locals feel the process of compensation will be challenging and are now filing the matter in court as they seek a permanent injunction against Tullow Oil unless the government speeds up the process of demarcation and issuing of title deeds.

Elkana Kipngetich, a resident of Salawa village, said residents would resist any efforts by the company and the Government to proceed with exploration and demand a repeat of the entire process.

Mr Kipngetich claimed since Tullow began exploring oil in part of Block 12A, fences, grass and gardens had been damaged without proper compensation.

HEAVY MACHINERY

"When they first came for exploration, a lot of destruction was witnessed on peoples farms. Fences were pulled down and the vegetation cover destroyed by their heavy machinery as they criss-crossed villages but no one received any form of compensation," Kipngetich said.

Former councillor Charles Bowen alleged MPs from the region and the county government had been compromised and were now conspiring with the oil company to arm-twist locals.

"We want the names of all local companies hired by Tullow to perform specific duties made public and a fresh tendering process begun. The entry of this oil company into our region was a well-protected secret revealed only to a few individuals with personal interests," he alleged.

However Barwesa MCA Joseph Makilap is on record blaming the confusion on some members of civil society and social media bloggers who he said were "blowing the situation out of proportion".

"Tullow requires a very small piece of land during actual drilling but it should be understood that in every society there are always certain characters ready to resist everything including investors," he said.

Speaking to The Standard Wednesday Governor Benjamin Cheboi said the county government was aware of the locals' complaints and was working with Tullow to ensure that the community's interests were considered first.

"Take it from me, our position as a county government is that the community's interests should be given first priority," he said.

Tullow's Social Performance Manager Robert Gerrits said only necessary land would be utilised, adding barely seven to 10 acres per oil well would be required.

He said should their 24-hour work schedule affect residents, then they would engage stakeholders to acquire more space.