Residents of Turkana County have called on President William Ruto and the government to address outstanding compensation and community benefit issues before commencing oil exploration activities in the region.
During a recent community sensitisation meeting, locals emphasized the need for Gulf Energy and government agencies to honour prior commitments to families whose land will be acquired for the project. Many affected residents say they have yet to receive fair compensation, and they insist that drilling should not start until these concerns are resolved.
GreenFaith Kenya highlighted that the Ministry of Energy issued a Gazette Notice in October 2025 to enable compulsory land acquisition for the oil project. The National Land Commission (NLC) is expected to oversee due process ensuring equitable compensation for the affected communities before the land is utilised for oil production.
The environmental organisation also criticised local leaders for allegedly neglecting the interests and safety of residents as the project advances. One community member stated, "The oil belongs to both us and the government. We must continue demanding what we lack so that we can be provided with it. We are also still waiting for the five per cent we have been asking for because it will help our people."
The demands come amid government efforts to fast-track Kenya’s petroleum sector development. Recent discussions with Indian officials have focused on expanding cooperation in oil exploration, drilling technology, and investment to unlock Turkana’s oil reserves. These talks also covered partnerships in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) infrastructure and supply.
Additionally, the government has proposed new regulations under the Draft Petroleum (Upstream Petroleum Cost Management) Regulations, 2026, which would limit oil and gas developers to a maximum debt-to-equity ratio of 70:30. This aims to ensure financial stability in petroleum projects and reduce risks linked to high borrowing. Non-compliance could lead to fines of up to Ksh20 million.
Turkana remains Kenya’s key oil-producing region, but past efforts to commercialise the resource have faced delays due to financing, infrastructure challenges, and community concerns.
