President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday warned that Kenya was at risk of going to war over the resource curse in the event the country did not manage oil and other natural resources effectively.
Speaking in Lokichar Turkana while flagging off the first consignment of crude oil destined for export from Kenya, the president stated that: "Let the discovery of oil be a blessing for Kenya" adding that the country would effectively manage oil and other natural resources to avoid the negative results that had confronted many other nations following new discoveries.
He explained there was a danger of losing all the benefits that can come from Kenya’s new oil wealth in the absence of effective resource management.
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta flagging off the first consignment of crude oil destined for export from Kenya on Sunday"]
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“The negative competition for oil and other natural resources has seen peaceful countries go to war. It has seen brothers take up arms against each other as mothers bury their children with no hope for the future,” he stated.
President Kenyatta, who later addressed a public rally at Lokichar town, reiterated that Kenyans should draw lessons from other countries that failed to manage their resources and ended up with suffering, hungry and poor citizenry.
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta flagging off the first consignment of crude oil destined for export from Kenya on Sunday"]
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“I pray that we will not be visited with the same curse. I also pray that we will view the discovery of oil and gas as a blessing that we will manage effectively and efficiently for the benefit of future generations,” Uhuru conveyed.
The resource curse, also known as the paradox of plenty, refers to the paradox that countries with an abundance of natural resources (like fossil fuels and certain minerals), tend to have less economic growth, less democracy, and worse development outcomes than countries with fewer natural resources.
Kenya started its journey into becoming an oil exporting country by laying down legislation to guide the sharing of revenue from petroleum resources.
The Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Bill sets the foundation for a revenue sharing formula between the national and county governments and the people.
Under the Bill, 75 percent of the revenue from the production and export of oil will go to all the Kenyan people through the national government. 20 percent will go to the county government of Turkana while 5 percent is reserved for the local community.
[caption caption="Presindet Uhuru Kenyatta and Turkana governor Josephat Nanok"]
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“Every Kenyan, therefore, has a stake in the development of the oil and gas sector and most importantly in the safeguarding of its resources,” the President stated.
The law got endorsement recently after consultations between President Kenyatta and the leadership of Turkana County headed by Governor Josephat Nanok.
“I call upon our leaders to ensure peace and stability in the region, and to ensure that any disagreements that might arise from this resource are resolved in an amicable and sustainable manner,” he stated.
[caption caption="Presindet Uhuru Kenyatta and Turkana governor Josephat Nanok on Sunday"]
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Deputy President William Ruto added that the Government has completed the construction of a technical and vocational training centre in Turkana East where youth will be trained in technology for the petroleum industry.
“The construction is complete and equipment worth more than Sh50 million will be delivered within the next few weeks,” he said.
The DP urged the local residents to take advantage of the new institution so that local youth can easily gain employment with the petroleum companies.
The drilling of the oil is being undertaken by Tullow Oil in partnership with Africa Oil and Total.
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta flagging off the first consignment of crude oil destined for export from Kenya on Sunday"]
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The Chief Executive Officer of Tullow Oil, Paul McDade, who spoke at Ngamia 8 Oil Field where the President flagged off the first consignment, said it was a momentous occasion for Kenya as it joins the league of petroleum producing countries.
“This is a Wonderfull day for Kenyans and I hope to come back here when the President again opens the valve for exports through the pipeline,” McDade stated.
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta flagging off the first consignment of crude oil destined for export from Kenya on Sunday"]
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