Munyes must not disappoint his people

Columnists are granted an opportunity to comment on issues but that privilege does not extend to open criticism of individuals in power.

However, today I feel compelled to speak directly to the recently sworn in Cabinet Secretary for Petroleum and Mining, Mr John Munyes.

The CS was my pupil at Lodwar High School 35 years ago, so that long standing connection does permit me to still admonish him.

The CS will also acknowledge that but for the presence of dozens of our CJPC observers in Turkana North in 1997, his victory as the first opposition MP in Turkana would not have been secured.

Twenty years later Mr Munyes has been given the arduous task of being Petroleum and Mining minister just as Tullow Oil are planning to begin oil production.

OIL REVENUE

Time will tell if the Cabinet flag is a poisoned chalice or a golden opportunity for the affable Munyes to stand firmly with his people in demanding a just share of the revenue from the oil.

Already he faces a major hurdle as Tullow cannot begin production until such time as the Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Bill is passed by the reconvened Parliament.

That Bill has been butchered and the losers will be the Turkana community.

The original bill granted shares as follows: National Government 70 per cent, County Government 20 per cent and Local Community 10 per cent.

BUDGET ALLOCATION

In the latest version before Parliament, the local benefit is reduced to five per cent and the national one increased to 75 per cent.

The amendments don’t end there as the county government will only receive 20 per cent if it doesn’t exceed the budget allocated by the national government.

The previous version allowed oil revenues to exceed national government by 100 per cent.

The current bill also states that the community share must not surpass 25 per cent of the county budget’s allocations.

This may appear a dispute over figures but the consequences for the Turkana community are enormous.

The Turkana poverty rate is 97 per cent compared to the national average of 47 per cent.

The literacy rate is a mere 18 per cent while the national figure is 66 per cent.

LAND

Droughts are frequent and Lake Turkana may soon dry up with the construction of the GIBE III Dam on the River Omo in Ethiopia, a source that currently supplies 90 per cent of the water in the Jade Sea.

Devolution has brought massive changes to Turkana but more is needed.

Pastoralists will lose vast tracts of their land to the oil companies and their livelihood will be put in jeopardy.

Oil has the potential to transform the county but it must not follow the routes of Nigeria, DRC and Angola and become a cursed resource.

Besides, the CS must confront head on the imminent decision to build a pipeline from Lokichar to Lamu to export the crude oil.

COOPERATION

Surely, Kenya has the potential and need to have its own refinery and thus increase its profits from the gifts that God has given them?

The county government must also invest in developing an inclusive, participative and comprehensive County Plan for the use of the oil revenue.

Turkana cannot afford a conflict between the Governor and the CS, in a Jubilee/Nasa local war.

Put another way, Turkana must not become the Ogoni of the 21 century.

Father Gabriel Dolan is a Catholic priest based in Mombasa. [email protected] @GabrielDolan1