HOW KSH100 CAN MAKE KENYANS RUN UP N DOWN THE STREETS

Turkana residents in
protests against British Oil Company
Tullow in October last year. They
accused the firm of ignoring them.
[PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]
By Jacob Ngetich
Turkana: Turkana leaders actively
participated in organising recent
protests against Tullow oil, The
Standard has learnt.
Investigations reveal that a day
prior to the demonstrations that
rocked the oil fields of Turkana and
led to the suspension of exploration
activities, some leaders from the
county paid residents of Lokichar
and Lokori to protest against the
British oil company.
Residents from the two areas said
they were paid to participate in the
demonstrations.
“We were given Sh100 each and
promised a similar balance. However,
we did not receive the remaining
amount. I took part in the protests
because I was paid,” said Josephine
Loperot. Ewosit Ekai, a resident of
Lokichar, said he took part in the
demonstrations because of money.
“At first we were promised some good
money. This later changed to Sh100.
The leaders used us to hit Tullow,”
said Ekai.
There have been allegations of
leaders having vested interests, key
among them pushing for business
deals.
Residents of villages around Ngamia
I, the main oil field, said they were
not involved in the protests.
The demonstrations held in October
last year were led by MPs James
Lomenen (Turkana South) and
Nicholas Ng’ikor (Turkana East).
The leaders marched to the oil fields
to protest alleged discrimination in
employment, tenders and transport
contracts by Tullow Oil Company. The
protests prompted immediate
suspension of oil drilling in blocks
10BB and 13T for fear of
employees’ safety.
Tullow had struck oil in Ngamia 1,
Etuko, Twiga 1, Ekale 1, Wildcat and
South Well wells.
Disrupt livelihoods
Ekwam Philip, a resident, noted that
the demonstrations did not achieve
much, but helped to create a security
scare and disrupt residents’
livelihoods.
“The protesters were self-seekers.
They did not represent us at all; our
concerns were not even captured in
their protests,” observed Ekwam.
However, in defence of the
demonstration that led to unease in
the region, MP Lomenen said
constitutionally the demonstrations
were legal and pressure from his
constituents forced him to act.