We have failed the first test on Turkana oil

Across the developing world, an abundance of economic resources has been associated with poverty and dictatorship. This is the essence of the resource curse. And it is what might befall Turkana County if we continue along the path we appear to have taken with regard to the management of the oil sector.

Perhaps no other country embodies this reality more than the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It has been estimated that the DRC has Sh240 trillion in mineral reserves. The country is also rich in hardwood forests and freshwater. The mighty Congo River alone has the potential to produce enough hydroelectric power to supply all of East and Central Africa. And with a population of more than 80 million, the DRC also has a significant human capital pool and market. By all estimates, it is a wealthy country.