Turkana oil: Local MPs issue demands
Oil trucks heading back to Lokichar after they were blocked by residents at Kalemngorok in Turkana County on June 27, 2018. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
A section of Turkana leaders are mounting pressure on the government to ensure security for the residents.
Turkana South MP James Lomenen and Turkana East MP Mohammed Ali Lokiru o Friday said that there will be no transportation of oil from Ngamia 8 to Changamwe refinery in Mombasa until their demands are met.
INSECURITY
On Wednesday, some Turkana County residents stopped five trucks from ferrying crude oil to Mombasa over rising insecurity along the border with Baringo.
The trucks that were accompanied by armoured police vehicles were stopped at Kalemngorock Centre along the Lokichar-Kapenguria road by hundreds of residents who allowed other vehicles to pass.
A local resident, Philip Lodio, said that President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a shoot-to-kill order on bandits terrorising residents of Turkana and Pokot communities to ensure that no one is armed with illegal firearms.
Mr Lodio claims that just a few hours after the order at Ngamia 8 earlier this month, three police reservists were shot dead and livestock stolen by bandits at Lokori Ward where the first four oil trucks were flagged off.
While addressing protesters in Lokichar on Friday, the two legislatures said the oil trucks will not leave for Mombasa until all livestock that were stolen in four separate raids are recovered and the bandits apprehended.
Mr Lomenen said it is the responsibility of the government to ensure security of its citizens.
