Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Civil society groups in Turkana are in sharp disagreement with the Turkana County government over a Sh258 million oil revenue payment from Tullow Oil Company.

The groups, comprising the Turkana Extractives Consortium, Turkana Community Justice Resource Centre, Esanyanait Assembly, and Ekalale Assembly, have petitioned both the county government and Tullow Oil. They demand clarification within 21 days on whether the payment from Tullow Oil was for land lease or compensation.

The Turkana County government has confirmed receiving Sh258 million from the British oil company. Michael Eregae, County Executive for Finance, stated that the payment, received on June 20, 2024, was for annual land lease fees.

“We would like to inform you that on June 20, 2024, we received Sh258 million from Tullow for the land lease. We will appropriate and account for this revenue in the Financial Year 2024/25 budget estimates and subsequent reports,” Eregae explained.

He clarified that the funds were for the annual lease of 20 acres of community land hosting oil wells in Turkana South and East sub-counties. However, Tullow Oil asserted that the payment was for accrued rates, levies, and taxes from 2011 to 2024.

The Turkana Extractive Consortium (TEC) criticised the county government for incorporating these funds into the main revenue account, arguing it was improper. TEC chairman Thomas Eramram warned of a scheme by some county officials and politicians to divert funds meant for the community.

County revenue

 “The Sh258 million are arrears from 2011 to 2024. The money for the community land lease from 2011 to 2015 can be treated as county revenue, but funds from 2016 to 2024 should fall under the Community Land Act mandate and be set aside for the relevant communities, not as county revenue,” he insisted.

Eramram emphasised that funds for land leases from 2016 onwards should go to both registered and unregistered communities in Turkana South and Turkana East sub-counties. TEC Director Geofrey Ariang’o added that if the matter isn’t resolved amicably, they will proceed to court to seek an interpretation of the Community Land Act 2016 concerning funds from community land leases.

In a recent meeting, Turkana South MP John Namoit, Lokichar MCA Samuel Lomodo, Tullow Oil representative Bethwel Sang, and the local community differed while explaining release of funds.