Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has raised serious concerns over the management of the Turkana oil project, warning that it risks turning into one of the most significant corruption scandals in Kenya’s history if authorities fail to act swiftly.
Appearing on Citizen TV, the ODM Secretary General said recent developments around the project point to troubling gaps in transparency and accountability, casting doubt on whether the country—and the people of Turkana in particular—will benefit from the oil discovered in the region.
Sifuna said the concerns surfaced as he prepared to join members of the Senate Energy Committee on a visit to Turkana for public participation on the project’s Field Development Plan, a process meant to ensure local communities are consulted before full-scale development begins.
According to the senator, warning signs emerged when last-minute changes were made to the ownership structure of the company approved to develop the oil fields, just days before the Ministry of Energy gave the project the green light.
He questioned the timing of the changes and the lack of public explanation, noting the strategic importance of the Turkana oil reserves.
The situation, he said, became even more troubling after the plan was approved. Sifuna alleged that key contractual terms were subsequently revised, including a significant increase in the cost recovery rate—from 55 per cent to 85 per cent within a short period.
He warned that such an adjustment would drastically reduce the revenue Kenya stands to earn from its oil resources and described the changes as highly unusual for a project of such national importance.
Sifuna is now calling on Parliament, regulators, and investigative agencies to intervene and thoroughly review how the decisions were made and who stands to benefit. He cautioned that failure to act could deny Kenyans the full value of the oil discovered in Turkana.
The senator added that oil exploration should mark a turning point for Turkana residents, who have waited for decades to see meaningful development from natural resources found on their land. Instead, he warned, weak governance and possible corruption could leave local communities with little or nothing to show for it.
His remarks have reignited debate over the governance of extractive industries in Kenya, with growing calls for transparency, independent audits, and stronger parliamentary oversight to safeguard the public interest.
