LODWAR, Turkana County — The Turkana Professionals Association (TPA) has petitioned the Turkana County Assembly to establish a legal framework governing the management and accountability of petroleum revenues expected from the South Lokichar oil project.
The association wants legislation to guide the management of the county government's 20 per cent share and the local community's 5 per cent share of petroleum revenues.
The petition is addressed to County Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. Charles Lokiyoto and comes as Kenya prepares for anticipated commercial oil production in the South Lokichar Basin.
TPA says a clear legal framework is needed to ensure that the revenue allocations are managed transparently and that local communities benefit from oil development.
Petition Seeks Transparency in Oil Revenue Management
The petition, signed by TPA chairman Hon. Jackson Nakusa, follows concerns raised by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o in February 2026 over transparency and accountability in petroleum revenue arrangements.
In submissions to parliamentary committees, Nyakang'o reportedly raised concerns about limited disclosure of petroleum agreements, unclear guidelines for county allocations and inadequate mechanisms for monitoring the community's 5 per cent share.
She called for stronger reporting requirements and improved oversight of the petroleum project.
TPA is now asking the County Assembly to establish rules that clarify how the funds should be received, managed, spent and audited.
Proposed Law to Govern Community Trust
The association wants the county legislation to align with Section 58 of the Petroleum Act and provide clear guidelines for establishing and governing the community trust.
The proposed framework would cover financial controls, public participation, independent audits and disclosure of revenue allocations and expenditure.
It would also establish transparent criteria for selecting community projects and introduce safeguards intended to prevent misuse of the funds.
TPA says the proposed legislation would not change the statutory revenue-sharing percentages but would provide accountability mechanisms for managing the allocations.
Turkana Oil Revenue-Sharing Debate Continues
The petition comes amid renewed scrutiny of how petroleum revenues will be shared between national and county governments and local communities.
In April 2026, the Turkana County Government reportedly opened discussions with Gulf Energy on fiscal terms and potential revenue streams, while a special committee was established to examine the proposals.
The association wants the County Assembly to put the necessary legal safeguards in place before substantial petroleum revenues begin flowing.
Copies of the petition have also been sent to the Governor, the Leader of the Majority and relevant committees dealing with energy and legal affairs.
South Lokichar Project Moves Towards Production
The petition comes as the South Lokichar project advances following the reported parliamentary ratification of the Field Development Plan and Production Sharing Contracts for Blocks T6 and T7 in February 2026.
The supplied information states that first oil is expected by December 2026, with crude initially planned to be transported by road to Mombasa for storage before export.
With production approaching, TPA argues that clear rules for managing petroleum revenues should be established before significant funds become available.
The association's petition places the focus on how the county and community shares will be governed, audited and disclosed to the public.
The County Assembly's consideration of the petition will be an important step in determining whether additional county-level legislation is introduced to govern petroleum revenue management.
