Uhuru Orders Governors Nanok and Lonyangapuo to Unite Pokot, Turkana Communities

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday directed Governors John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot) and Josphat Nanok (Turkana) to sit and solve the conflicts between their communities.

The President was speaking during the flagging off the first batch of crude oil from Lokichar oil fields where he stated that the two county bosses should not wait for the head of state to unite them.

He further asked Lonyangapuo, being the older one, to guide his colleague in the pacification effort.

President Kenyatta flagged off 4 trucks transporting oil barrels from Lokichar in Turkana to Mombasa maintaining that 2,000 barrels will be transported daily.

[caption caption="An aerial view of Etuko-1 well in Turkana County"][/caption]

The Head of State addressed revenue sharing concerns among the residents who had expressed they were not comfortable with the 5 per cent share of proceeds from the mineral.

"We want one country where every individual is able to benefit from the county’s resources. Let us embrace one another and come up with lasting solutions to our problems," President Kenyatta stated.

Following a meeting with Turkana leaders at State House last month, President Kenyatta announced that the public will get 75 per cent through the national government.

The county would get 20 per cent while the local community will be guaranteed five per cent of the proceeds if the pilot succeeds. 

Tullow Oil Plc, the company exploring the resource, stated that an estimated 60,000 barrels of crude oil will be produced from the Ngamia and Amosing fields per day.

[caption caption="Storage tanks at Tullow Oil's Ngamia 8 drilling site in Lokichar, Turkana County"][/caption]

The area is also faced with poor infrastructure as the region is reeling from the effects of flooding which has rendered most roads impassable.