We have lost hope in Tullow Oil, Turkana residents say

We have lost hope in Tullow Oil, Turkana residents say



Updated Friday, November 1st 2013 at 23:02 GMT +3

Turkana residents demonstrate on the streets

By LUCAS NG’ASIKE

When former President Kibaki announced the discovery of oil in Turkana last year, residents received the news with joy. But the black gold is slowly turning into a curse.
Locals are now engrossed in a fight with Tullow Oil, the firm that discovered the oil, over land and oil proceeds. The British firm struck oil in Ngamia 1, Twiga 1 South Well, Ekale 1- Wildcat and Etuko oil well.
But locals feel they have been sidelined by the company in the sharing of oil proceeds. The community says Tullow operates without involving them. This has led to major conflicts, threatening to put the region into oil insurgency.
Earlier this year, a leaders’ forum held in Lodwar and attended by Interior Minister Joseph ole Lenku and his Energy counterpart Davis Chirchir, Tullow Oil officials and Turkana leaders failed to resolve the stalemate surrounding the conflicts.
The community demanded that Tullow Oil streamlines its operations by involving the community directly.
“We thought the discovery of oil would alleviate our suffering but now we have lost hope in oil. We have been sidelined by the oil exploration companies since they started oil exploration in the region’’, says Akure Lopeto, a pastoralist.
Ms Akure says they have lost a chunk of grazing land to oil exploration in the region, yet they have not been compensated.

Environmental degradation
However, the company says it has built a school, a health centre, a water project and offered scholarships to students locally and abroad.


Locals also claim oil exploration activities have caused a lot of harm to the environment. But oil experts say oil drilling do not take large chunks of land since the drilled hole is equivalent to the size of a plate.
Lodongiroi Lopusmong, a herder in Lokichar, accused Tullow Oil of “blindfolding” them by offering camels to villagers in exchange for land. Lopusmong said Tullow Oil officials went to the villagers with camels, which were handed over to the elders to feast on.

“They told us they had come to see us and that we can party with camel meat as they open dialogue about the land matters. We ate the camel meat but we did not agree to give them a portion of our land. We later realised they had fenced the place and settled to explore oil,” said Mr Lopusmong.
Several meetings held between local leaders and Tullow Oil to resolve the land stalemate bore no fruit, as the community refused to allow Tullow Oil to expand its drilling activities.
Locals pointed fingers at some local leaders claiming they had been compromised in a land deal to favour Tullow Oil. Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok castigated some leaders for “threatening to chase away investors from the region”.
Nanok had earlier said oil exploration activities in the region should not be interrupted since it is of economic benefit to the county and the entire country.
Suspended operations
“We appeal to local leaders not to incite the community to reject investors. We are blessed with oil resources and others which should be explored so that it uplifts the economic livelihood of the community,” he told a leaders’ forum.
Last weekend’s protest sparked a lot of anxiety after Tullow Oil suspended operation.
MPs James Lomenen ( Turkana South) and Nicholas Ng’ikor ( Turkana East) led locals in a protest march to an oil field, which led to the suspension of oil drilling in the region.
The leaders said Tullow Oil was short changing the community on jobs, tenders and vehicle hire contracts. But in a statement through its associate PR firm African Practice, Tullow Oil said it takes its relationship between them and the local communities seriously.
“Tullow takes its relationships with the local communities extremely seriously and the decision to suspend exploration and appraisal operations was taken to prevent further escalation of the demonstrations while discussions to resolve this issue for the long term are ongoing’’, read the statement.

The firm further said it is working closely with the local communities and county and national governments so that the company can resume work on Blocks 10BB and 13T as soon as possible.
According to the African Practice, Tullow Oil has employed over 800 locals out of the 1,400 employees it has in Kenya.




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Sir Richard Branson opens luxury resort in Masai Mara


Updated Friday, November 1st 2013 at 22:54 GMT +3

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU
Last week, Mahali Mzuri Safari Camp officially opened its doors when owner Sir Richard Branson hosted President Uhuru at his newest luxury pad in the Masai Mara.
Although the tented safari lodge has been in operation since 2003, Branson officially launched the camp and invited Maasai elders to bless the establishment, six years after he became a recognised Maasai elder.
“It was an honour and so much fun to participate in the ceremony. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate the official opening of Mahali Mzuri and I’m thrilled that so many of the local community have made it here today to observe and take part in what was a beautifully traditional and fitting way of launching our new safari camp,” said Branson on the camp’s website.
Mahali Mzuri is a joint partnership between Sir Richard Branson and the Gehlot family, who run the Intex Group of Companies in Kenya. The Gehlot family joined Branson for the opening ceremony.
The camp, located in Motorongi Conservancy in the Masai Mara ecosystem, joins Virgin Limited Edition, a collection of vacation retreats spread across eight exotic locations around the world. The retreats are designed to offer high-end luxury holidays, serenity and unique retreats.

“I’ve recently been pleased to add my voice to supporters of the tourism industry in Kenya and we see this opening as a symbol of our confidence in its long term future,” added Branson.
Great tourism
Cabinet Secretaries Phyllis Kandie (East African Affairs, Commerce Tourism and Michael Kamau (Transport Infrastructure) attended the ceremony.
“We are extremely delighted to welcome Mahali Mzuri into the staple of great tourism establishments in Kenya. This new camp is a testimony of how international investors like Sir Richard Branson continue to have faith in Kenya,” said Kandie.
Mahali Mzuri consists of 12 sleeper tents named after the 12 Maasai tribes in the conservancy.
The luxury tents can cater for a maximum of 24 guests at any one time. Rates start from Sh50,415.46 per person per night (double occupancy) inclusive of meals, drinks and daily game drives as well as unlimited access to the Olare Motorogi Conservancy.