Angry Turkana residents block five trucks transporting oil

Angry Turkana residents block five trucks transporting oil

Five trucks transporting oil from Ngamia 8 to Mombasa were blocked by Turkana residents in protest over lack of jobs, tenders and insecurity.

Angry residents waylaid the vehicles along the Lokichar-Kitale Highway on Thursday.

They demanded that the trucks return to Africa Camp Solutions where they had also been held up earlier by disgruntled traders.

The Lokichar Business Community, who had been camping at Africa Camp Solutions since Tuesday night, said the government must ensure that local companies are given priority to do business in the area.

They claimed they had been denied tenders to supply fuel to facilitate operations at the oil extraction site. The tenders, according to the businessmen, were given to a government parastatal.

“Local drivers should also be given their fair share of transport jobs,” said Samuel Lomodo, the leader of the local business community.

Residents also alleged that despite the shoot-to-kill order on bandits given by President Uhuru Kenyatta, security is still a major concern.

‘’Just a few hours after the President gave the order, three police reservists were shot dead and livestock stolen at Lokori Ward where the first four oil trucks were flagged off!” Philip Lodio, a local resident lamented.

The also downplayed allegations that they are the ones who pose a threat to the oil transporting process.

“There is no way we can be a security threat to the oil we have protected and guarded for many years. Specialized security personnel should head to Kapedo and assure our people of their security,” said Lodio.

“At the moment we will escort the trucks back to Africa Camp Solutions and we won’t tamper with any truck until our President assures us of our security.”

Security in Turkana has been a major issue with local MPs imploring the government in recent weeks to first address it before oil transportation.

 

 

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Turkana Oil

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