Crude oil transportation from Turkana begins after stand-off

TURKANA, KENYA: Transportation of crude oil from Turkana to Mombasa resumed on Thursday after nearly fifty days of stand-off between a local community and the Government.

After a series of meetings and Barazas headed by Cabinet Secretary Petroleum and Mining John Munyes with stakeholders, the community relaxed its stand allowing the resumption of the Early Oil Pilot Scheme (EOPS) from Lokichar to Mombasa.

Five trucks fully loaded with 600 barrels of oil left Lokichar at 7.00 am for Mombasa.

The EOPS was interrupted on the 27th of June 2018 by Turkana South and East residents’ just days after President Uhuru Kenyatta flagged off the EOPS at Ngamia 8 opening doors for Kenya to join Oil exporting countries in Africa.

The community wanted the government to beef up security in hot spots areas of Turkana East and South, address issues of employment, and award tenders to the local communities among other demands.

However in a quest to meet the demands, the National Government deployed special forces in Turkana East scattered all the way from Kapedo to Lokori where three battalions of GSU personnel are deployed
reinforced by a special force from Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) at Lomelo.

But having beefed up the security, they raised another issue on “Local Content”.

In an interview with the Cs John Munyes after concluding the last Baraza at Kalemungorok in Turkana South, he said the meetings were successful and the transportation of Crude oil was allowed to resume forthwith.

Munyes further said, they are putting up a Turkana Grievance Management committee that will be dealing with any conflicts that may arise in future.