Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has accused President William Ruto of selfish interest as the Senate has invited members of the public to submit written memoranda on the proposed Field Development Plan (FDP) and Product Sharing Contracts (PSCs) for Blocks T6 and T7 in the South Lokichar Basin, Turkana County, as part of the ongoing parliamentary review process.

The invitation follows the tabling of the South Lokichar Field Development Plan and the associated Product Sharing Contracts in the Senate on Thursday, November 27, 2025. The tabling was done pursuant to Article 71 of the Constitution, which requires that any grant of a right or concession for the exploitation of natural resources by or on behalf of the national government must be ratified by Parliament.

However, responding to the notice signed by Clerk of the Senate, J.M. Nyegenye, on Monday, December 29, 2025, the vocal Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General has described the oil deal as yet another scandal by Ruto yet to unfold.

Sifuna raises alarm

”Parliament has invited your views on the Turkana Oil FDP that we are considering currently. You should pay attention because this is Ruto’s biggest scandal yet,” Sifuna wrote on X.

Against the move, Sifuna has argued that:

“The ownership of the Company that is to produce the oil (Gulf Energy, formerly Tullow) changed names and hands multiple times in a matter of weeks. Days even.”

Sifuna said that the original production contract has been varied a million times. Most notably on 25th November 2025, just days after the last ownership changes, to raise the maximum recoverable cost for petroleum production from the initial 55 to 85 per cent, adding that Kenyans will never see any real benefit from that oil.

According to Sifuna, on the same day, Clause 27(2)(b) was amended to expand the definition of capital expenditure to include expenditure on labour, fuel, repairs, maintenance, hauling, mobilisation, supplies and materials relating to production, development, exploration and appraisal and decommissioning costs, saying that Kenyans may basically never see a coin from our oil.

He also said the Senate passed the Local Content bill, which requires the oil company to utilise locally available resources, including labour and supplies.

Selfish interest

”They have cleverly made the current agreement with the Gulf exempt from such legislation. We don’t have leaders. We have dealers in government who don’t care about anything other than themselves.” Edwin Sifuna noted.

Meanwhile,the particular involvement is also in line with Section 31(3) of the Petroleum Act, Cap 308, which mandates public participation in the consideration of production sharing contracts and field development plans submitted for ratification.

After tabling, the documents were committed to the Senate Standing Committee on Energy for review and consideration. According to the Senate, the Field Development Plan and Product Sharing Contracts for Blocks T6 and T7 outline the proposed commercial development of six oil discoveries in the Lokichar Basin.

Public participation

The documents also provide details on planned infrastructure, environmental safeguards, community obligations, and the projected benefits to the nation. In line with Article 118 of the Constitution, which guarantees public participation in parliamentary business, and Section 31(3) of the Petroleum Act, the Standing Committee on Energy is now seeking views from the public.

Kenyans are encouraged to examine the documents and submit their opinions, concerns, or recommendations to inform the committee’s deliberations. Copies of the Field Development Plan and Product Sharing Contracts are available on the Parliament of Kenya website through the Senate Standing Committee on Energy portal.

Members of the public can submit their memoranda to the Clerk of the Senate via post to P.O. Box 41842-00100, Nairobi, hand delivery to the Office of the Clerk of the Senate at the Main Parliament Buildings, or by email to [email protected], with a copy sent to [email protected].

The Senate has set Friday, January 16, 2026, at 5.00 pm as the deadline for submission of the memoranda.