Raila assures Turkana residents of share of oil revenue
Nasa leaders Kalonzo Musyoka (left) and Raila Odinga prepare to address Lodwar, Turkana County, residents at Moi Stadium on July 27, 2017. Mr Odinga said many youth were not employed in Turkana and he would reverse that. PHOTO | DENNIS KAVISU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Odinga said Turkana was one of the counties with a lot of resources yet to be exploited.
- Mr Musyoka accused the Jubilee administration of failing to ensure that subsidised maize flour reached every part of the country.
National Super Alliance (Nasa) presidential candidate Raila Odinga promised Turkana residents 20 per cent of the revenue from oil mined in the county if elected in the August 8 General Election.
Mr Odinga was leading his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka and two of the three other National Super Alliance principals, Mr Musalia Mudavadi and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula, in a vote-hunting tour of the county on Thursday.
REVENUE
Speaking at a rally in Lodwar town, Mr Odinga said the revenue would be channelled through the county government.
The opposition chief said he would ensure that immediately he is sworn in, he signs the Petroleum Bill, 2016 to ensure the Turkana community benefits from the oil in the county.
“I will sign the Bill that Uhuru refused to sign,” Mr Odinga said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta declined to sign the draft law and asked Parliament to relook at it.
HUNGER
The former Prime Minister asked residents not to be duped with relief food that has been sent to the county by the national government, saying it was a ploy to make them vote for the ruling Jubilee Party.
“Jubilee administration is now coming to Turkana with relief food, not to benefit Turkana, but for votes,” Mr Odinga told the crowd.
“When they bring it, take the food but don’t say ‘thank you’; just vote in Nasa and tell them to bring more the next day.”
READ: Food scarcity blamed for sexual exploitation in Turkana
RESOURCES
Mr Odinga said Turkana was one of the counties with a lot of resources yet to be exploited, adding that it will be different when Nasa will be in power.
“We have oil in Turkana and we also have a lot of underground water, which is enough to meet the country’s need in the next 70 years,” he said.
“You should not be treated as poor people who only rely on relief food.”
BILL
He faulted the President for refusing to sign the Petroleum Bill into law, saying he was not interested in developing the county.
He added: “I have told (Turkana Governor Josphat) Nanok that it will be my first task, to sign Petroleum Bill into law.”
EMPLOYMENT
Mr Odinga said many youth were not employed in Turkana and he would reverse that by setting up an industrial park in the county.
“In Turkana, we have girls who have given birth but don’t have husbands; we have single mothers and parents and they are struggling to survive because they have children to take care of but don’t have jobs,” he said.
MAIZE FLOUR
Saying Nasa was sure of clinching victory, Mr Musyoka accused the Jubilee administration of failing to ensure that subsidised maize flour reached every part of the country.
“There is no packet of maize flour that is costing Sh90 here," Mr Musyoka said.
The former Vice-President urged residents to ensure they elect leaders from Nasa affiliate parties.
DROUGHT
Mr Nanok said the Jubilee government had resorted to buying votes in Turkana in a last-minute rush instead of selling their policies.
“Hunger was in our county since last year. We raised the alarm but we have been left alone to deal with it.
"The Turkana County government alone was too strained to tackle the drought,” Mr Nanok said.
FOOD
The Council of Governors’ chairman said deceiving the electorate with relief food was an electoral offence.
Mr Mudavadi said Nasa wants to defeat Jubilee in round one of voting.
The Nasa principals also visited Lokwi, Kakuma, Lokichar, Kalokol and Kaaleng.
