Turkana County is caught between two realities, the promise of an oil-driven economic future, and a worsening security crisis that is leaving families displaced and grieving.
While county leaders met in Lodwar to advance oil regulations, residents in Turkana East were on the streets demanding urgent action to stop deadly livestock raids.
Governor Dr. Jeremiah Lomorukai hosted a senior technical team from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) for a review of environmental monitoring in the South Lokichar Oil Basin, the county’s most economically significant oil block.
Speaking after the meeting, the Governor said his administration is finalizing county laws to manage petroleum resources.
The legislation will cover how to handle the county’s 20% share and the host community’s 5% share of oil revenue, as provided for under the Petroleum Act, 2019.
EPRA’s assessment found no petroleum contamination in the South Lokichar Basin.
Governor Lomorukai also announced new training programmes to equip county officials with the skills needed to oversee upstream petroleum operations.
At the same time, outrage was building 200km away in Kang’it village, Turkana East.
On Monday, residents marched to the Deputy County Commissioner’s office in Lokori to protest a bandit attack over the weekend.
The protestors, who spoke of repeated livestock raids and insecurity, presented a petition calling for the immediate deployment of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and a multi-agency disarmament operation against criminal gangs.
“Wapi President Ruto atuokoe, loosely translated as where is President Ruto to save us?” One mourner cried out.
The contrasting scenes underscore a growing disconnect.
As environmental clearances move forward to support further oil exploration, pastoralist communities say survival remains their immediate concern.
Local leaders have warned that delays by the national government in tackling cross-border banditry are eroding commerce, scaring off investment, and threatening to stall development gains that oil revenue is meant to deliver.
