The promise of petrodollars has clashed with the reality of insecurity as Turkana residents issue an ultimatum to the government: no peace, no oil.

Tensions ran high at a public engagement forum in Lokichar, where the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Energy faced a barrage of complaints from the local community. Residents of Turkana South and East have categorically stated that the proposed oil extraction exercise must be preceded by a comprehensive security overhaul. They fear that without disarming the banditry syndicates roaming the region, the oil wealth will only fuel further conflict.

The Banditry Menace

The residents' demands are rooted in a bloody history of cattle rustling and border skirmishes with the neighbouring Pokot community. The Kalemgorok and Lokichar areas, central to the oil project, are frequently in the crosshairs of these attacks. Locals argued that it is impossible to host a multi-billion shilling industrial operation in a zone where the government cannot guarantee the safety of its own citizens.

"You want to take the oil, but you leave us with the bullets," one elder told the committee. The sentiment reflects a deep-seated mistrust of the state’s priorities. The fear is that security forces will be deployed solely to protect the oil infrastructure, leaving the villages vulnerable to retaliatory attacks and displacement.

• Committee's Response: Committee Chairperson David Gikaria (Nakuru Town East MP) acknowledged the gravity of the situation. He assured the residents that their concerns would be tabled before the National Assembly and the National Security Council. He emphasised that the resource must be a blessing, not a curse.
• Development Prerequisites: Beyond security, the community is demanding clear frameworks for revenue sharing and local content. They want assurances that the jobs and contracts arising from the extraction will benefit the sons and daughters of Turkana, not just outsiders.

A Standoff in the Making

The standoff in Turkana serves as a critical test for Kenya’s extractive industry policy. The government is eager to commercialise the oil deposits to boost the struggling economy, but it cannot bypass the social license to operate. If the security apparatus fails to pacify the region, the oil taps may remain dry for much longer than anticipated.

For the people of Lokichar, the equation is simple: security is the first dividend they expect from the black gold beneath their feet. Anything less is a non-starter.