Oil residue, chemicals expose Turkana residents to cancer – medic

Over 30,000 residents of Turukana County risk contracting cancer after Tullow Oil allegedly abandoned three oil wells without proper disposal leaving residents exposed to toxic materials and waste.

Speaking to Citizen Digital on Tuesday, a Turkana-based medic, Amos Lolibo, said that residents living near Epir 1, Daipasi and Kodos oil fields in Turkana, Kerio and Lokichar oil basins risk contracting cancer and other ailments due to exposure to chemicals.

According to Lolibo, the oil wells, which have were abandoned over a year ago by the oil exploration company, have led to accumulation of chemicals in the nearby River Kerio as they are swept by rain water and later infiltrate to Lake Turkana, the m,ain source of water in Kenya’s northern part.

“Chemicals are now all over and once it rains, they are swept into the River Kerio and subsequently into Lake Turkana thereby putting the lives of the citizenry at risk,” said Lolibo.

Addressing the same issue, Abdiwahit Emuria, an activist based on Lodwar, said there is need to sensitize the residents on the dangers of using materials left behind by the oil company as they only put their lives at risk of contracting terminal ailments such as cancer.

Tullow oil Company  has drilled 34  oil wells in Turkana and is expected to drill more in the coming months as it explores more possibilities of commercially viable oil.

Written by Paul Barasa