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| Turkana Girls Photo Credit: Eloto William |
Contrary to popular beliefs, oil revenue is not an economic finality in itself. No lasting empowerment emanates from reliance on oil revenues and scramble for scarce oil jobs.
In economic terms, benefits rest not with this black gold but with its accompaniments. Real benefits are created by - us - who live around oil wells.
How can Turkana County - with her oil wealth, virgin economy and a robust (yet idle) youthful population - still continue to bank her hopes on hollow assertions propagated by those who think oil exploration companies have a divine duty to "employ and/or economically uplift locals (whatever that means)"?
I have spent a significant portion of time examining oil politics in Turkana. The excitement that greeted the oil discovery some years ago is slowly fading away. The people - it seems - had been made to believe that the economic fruits of oil would start to fall “immediately” the discovery was made.
This change of heart raises three solid points. 1) Structured communication targeting locals vis-a-vis oil benefits is needed. 2) It is incumbent upon (political) leaders to stick to facts and avoid giving a false impression that oil dollar is the magic bullet that will lift Turkana - and by extension, Kenya - up socio-economically. 3) Only through inclusive initiatives and strategies can locals scoop their fair share of the oil dollars.
Clearly, such misguided reasoning deserves questioning in order to reveal the shortcomings of its proponents. Calls for employment of locals neighbouring oil exploration sites are by all standards good.
The challenge, however, is inherently with the minds leading this campaign. The Turkana oil find has brought to the fore the intellectual emptiness of our leadership and the naked lie that is often projected through noble initiatives. They say they are championing for people's interests though there's nothing to show for this "advocacy".
They say they are the link between oil companies and the people even when evidence demonstrates something else. They are the link between their stomachs and those feeding them!
They want us to believe they have what it takes to articulate and follow up people's concerns but their disjointed action betrays them.
With these ingredients solidly embedded within this bunch of noisemakers, isn't it unwise to persecute oil companies for sins that are not of their making?
How do we expect the masses out there - having swallowed this lie - to successfully sieve through the opportunities accompanying oil extraction minus our help – and guidance?
It's high time my people internalised this truth: Tullow Oil Plc or any other oil company operating in Turkana is not the cure of Turkana’s poverty. The answer is squarely inked in our brains. It flows from education of the people. It's hinged on leaders' admission of the inefficiencies of handouts.
This cure is grounded in our capacity to rope in village Mama Mbogas (small scale traders), school leavers, herders etc and drill into their heads a new bundle of thoughts.
The fact that this caliber of people dotting our villages has proved to possess a progressive mindset is enough to move all of us to action. Post-industrial revolution Europe was not a product of an apathetic officialdom. It was powered by the "small people" we have relegated to the dustbins of our reasoning.
Partnership between oil companies, other development partners and our leaders will win the hearts of many if it deviates from a paternalistic way of engagement and instead entrench empowerment programs in communities.
Village people do not demand much. They want barefoot colleges, polytechnics and incubation centers.
We must think differently if we really want to see different - and positive - results.
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