Governor Nanok's silence fuels oil land grab

Five years ago Kenya officially confirmed the discovery of oil deposits in its north-western corner. Since then, many developments have come up – some positive, others negative. On the positive front, Kenya promulgated a new Constitution which created a coterie of grassroot offices that, without a doubt, have impacted heavily on natural resources’ exploration, exploitation and management.  Of focus on this front is the role of county governments. Whether or not they have performed to the satisfaction of the public remains to be seen.

Personally, I do not think county governments have demonstrated that they truly value, and will do any action as constitutionally demanded of them to safeguard public interest. History always reminds us that not all public bodies are truly public.

One disturbing question that lays bare this historical truism is the handling of oil discovery and its many other sister-projects in Turkana County. As far as I understand Turkana oil politics, failure to clear the air on the status of land under oil exploration; attempts to shortchange the public through withholding crucial information or through outright official sabotage, will not only fuel public anger but may lead to ugly confrontations. We cannot also rule out the emergence of opportunistic politicians with no solid people-oriented credentials.

Examples abound. A number of politicians from the region have been moving around villages popularizing the idea that creating community wildlife conservancies will create jobs and bring the much needed development closer to the people. Their way forward? Turn community lands into wildlife conservancies.

What is conspicuously unclear about this initiative is why these so-called conservancies are located in the southern part of Turkana – a zone also under oil exploration.

Could there be any link between oil activities, eventual conversion of community land into private land and community conservancies?

Proponents of community conservancies bank their reasoning on the thinking that since a huge chunk of the region’s population is unschooled, reportedly have many illegal guns and could potentially pose a security threat hence hampering any oil exploration activities, it makes sense to “keep them busy” by hiring them as rangers. They say this is a two-pronged initiative that will result in wildlife conservation while generating wealth for all.

But beyond these street rumours, nothing tangible exists. Last year, after noises from a section of the public concerning the legitimacy of organizations spearheading this conservancy thing, the Turkana County Assembly intervened and directed that the said bodies suspend their activities until the Assembly decides otherwise.

Remember, the noise was not about constitutional guarantees vis-à-vis community lands. Neither was it about revealing the shadowy deals that gave rise to community conservancies.

To date, nothing seems to be moving forward. Members of the public from the affected zones have been made to believe that some unnamed “anti-development” forces are out to scuttle their only hope – the jobs they were told wildlife conservancies would bring.

With the public in the mix, coupled with the gullible nature of its collective engagement, it is now becoming clear that proponents of community conservancies are smiling. Their mission has been achieved – albeit with many grey areas here and there.

I think I know why. Politics in Kenya is founded on numbers and not principles. I therefore do not see the Turkana County Assembly going against this matter, its legal and moral implication notwithstanding.

Yet, in between these push-overs the land question stands untouched. Could this be part of a grand scheme to dispossess the people of Turkana County of their land? If yes, what will become of it?

That the local leadership led by the County Governor, Hon. Josphat Nanok, has intervened in favour of the true position regarding public land is an assertion I refuse to accept. The governor has only acted through silence. And this is clear for all to note: silence has never subdued forces of darkness especially when they are determined to use all tools within their disposal to kick out a seemingly ill-informed populace from their ancestral home.

Mustn’t I then point out that the Governor’s silence is a direct threat to the people?

Another fundamental point that has been swept under our bureaucratic carpet is the destiny of pastoralists who have transitioned from traditional nomadism and adopted a sedentary lifestyle. Most of these people hardly know they ought to enjoy their constitutional land rights like any other Kenyan. Where will they run to in case they are kicked out of their present locations to give room for oil and other mining activities?

This faulty logic that pastoral lands are vast and that any apportioning to whoever forwards his/her requests would not negatively impact on local people’s lives must not be entertained. And people in leadership must know this better.

Either Governor Nanok stands in solidarity with the people or he publicly explains his silence. People’s land must be protected!

Twitter: @mlemukol