Turkana County Accuses Government Of Secret Contracts

Turkana County, Kenya, has accused the national government of entering into secret land deals with oil firm Tullow.  

The County has been in regular dispute with government over the sharing of oil revenues and related land use. The latest allegations focusing on 15,686 acres of land, which Turkana claims the government has entered into a secret agreement with Tullow without consulting the County as it is required to do so by law.  

Turkana County executive committee have further accused the government of forging agreement with regards to the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor in order to allocate 50,948 acres for the project’s development authority.

The County is calling for the courts to invalidate notice from the National Land Commission that the land will be acquired on behalf of government and the development authority.

Speaking on the matter Turkana County lawyer Nelson Havi stated, "The respondents have not engaged Turkana County towards the acquisition of the land, the subject matter of the two Gazette notices, and have proceeded to initiate the acquisition of the land in total disregard of the Constitution of Kenya, the Land Act, the Community Land Act and the obligation imposed thereby to consult and agree with the petitioner."