Turkana Residents Refuse to Yield Land Without Compensation

Residents of Turkana County in Kenya are demanding fair compensation for their land before oil extraction can begin. According to the residents, they should not lose their land without receiving their rightful dues.

The issue has been ongoing since last year when the Ministry of Energy issued a Gazette Notice for the compulsory acquisition of land at the Amosing and Ngamia-1 oil fields in Lokichar.

GreenFaith Kenya, a faith-based environmental organisation, organised a community sensitisation forum where residents expressed their concerns about the delay in implementing a five per cent community benefit promised from oil revenues. The residents also questioned the security operations being conducted in the area, saying they should be done with respect for local rights.

Kenya is targeting the start of commercial oil production in Turkana before the end of 2026, with the Lokichar Basin expected to produce up to 120,000 barrels of crude oil per day once full development is completed. However, residents insist that compensation, community benefits and land rights must be fully addressed before extraction begins.