Residents of Turkana County have asked Parliament to put strong safeguards in place to ensure oil resources benefit the local community.

During a meeting with the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Energy and members of the Turkana County Assembly on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, local leaders raised concerns over how proceeds from the Early Oil Pilot Scheme (EOPS) were handled. The pilot project, run by Tullow Oil between 2018 and 2019, involved the export of crude oil from the region.

Members of County Assembly said communities living near oil fields, and Turkana residents in general, did not benefit from the oil sales, despite hosting the resource. They argued that Turkana, which has long faced marginalisation, should not suffer further economic injustice.

Residents echoed the concerns during a public baraza at Ekalees Centre in Lodwar, where they demanded transparency and accountability in the management of oil revenues. In a memorandum presented by the Council of Elders, the community called for the public release of the EOPS report and clear accountability measures to guarantee local benefits from the oil.

Push for commercial production

The demands come as the government renews efforts to move towards commercial oil production in Turkana. Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has sought to clarify the purpose of the pilot project. He said the EOPS was not meant to generate revenue but to test systems, collect data and reduce risks before full-scale production.

Beyond revenue, residents also urged the government to improve security in the region, citing long-standing conflict between Turkana and Pokot communities. They further called for local people to receive priority in both skilled and unskilled jobs linked to oil exploration and production.

The committee’s co-chairs, Oburu Odinga and David Gikaria, supported the residents’ demands, saying host communities must gain meaningful benefits from oil extraction.

“It is time we embrace this opportunity and ensure our God-given resources are fully exploited for the benefit of the community and Kenyans at large,” said Odinga.

Gikaria said Kenya stood to gain by becoming an oil-producing country. “Exporting this commodity will have a direct positive impact on our economy through stronger foreign exchange reserves,” he said.

Concerns over the Turkana Early Oil Pilot Scheme (EOPS) have grown after an audit revealed a Ksh4.5 billion deficit, despite Kenya earning about Ksh3.6 billion from crude oil sales. The audit showed that total costs, including drilling, storage and transportation, reached approximately Ksh8.1 billion, far exceeding revenue.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi defended the project, saying it achieved its main goal of testing global market demand, pricing and logistics, and that the deficit counts as recoverable exploration expenditure. He added that lessons from the pilot are crucial as Kenya prepares for full commercial production, expected in December 2026.