Opinion: Is Edwin Sifuna a Lone Voice on the Turkana Oil Project?
Opinion may differ on Sifuna’s political posture, but dismissing his message outright would be a mistake. Kenya’s history is littered with mega projects that promised transformation but delivered debt, disputes, and disappointment. Turkana’s oil should not join that list.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has repeatedly warned that the Turkana oil project could become one of Kenya’s biggest corruption scandals, yet his concerns appear to be drawing little attention from leaders closest to the project and the communities most affected.
Speaking during a recent interview on Citizen TV, Sifuna did not mince his words. He described the Field Development Plan (FDP) for the Turkana oil project as a deal riddled with red flags, insisting that unless Kenyans confront the issue head-on, the country may never benefit financially from its oil resources. According to the senator, the warning signs of corruption are already visible, making the project a “scandal in waiting.”
What is striking is not just the gravity of Sifuna’s claims, but the apparent silence or muted response from local leadership. Turkana has for years carried the hope that oil would transform livelihoods, bring infrastructure, and correct historical marginalization. Yet as public participation forums roll out, the louder voices have largely focused on process rather than substance, leaving allegations of corruption hovering unanswered.
Sifuna’s frustration is evident. He notes that he was expected to be part of the Energy Committee delegation to Turkana during the public participation process, underscoring that Parliament itself has a responsibility to interrogate the deal beyond ceremonial consultations. His argument is simple: without transparency and accountability at this stage, oil may enrich a few while leaving Turkana and the rest of Kenya empty-handed.
The lack of strong engagement with Sifuna’s claims raises uncomfortable questions. Are leaders unwilling to confront powerful interests tied to the project? Or has the normalization of large-scale scandals dulled the urgency with which such warnings are treated?
Opinion may differ on Sifuna’s political posture, but dismissing his message outright would be a mistake. Kenya’s history is littered with mega projects that promised transformation but delivered debt, disputes, and disappointment. Turkana’s oil should not join that list.
If the Turkana oil project is truly meant to benefit local communities and the nation, then voices raising concerns especially those pointing to possible corruption deserve more than indifference. They deserve answers.
