During public forums held at Nakukulas and Lopii centres residents and leaders in Turkana raised alarm over the proposed commercial oil extraction in the county, highlighting a lack of a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and expressing doubts about the safety of the project.

Residents raised questions over health risks, environmental protection, and community benefits dominated discussions. Turkana East MP Nicholas Ngikolong said the community has not received sufficient information about the project’s potential effects on their health and environment. He stressed that the EIA report is essential before any oil exploration or production can move forward. Other local leaders shared concerns from previous oil exploration conducted by Tullow Oil, citing reports of unexplained health problems, including respiratory illnesses and miscarriages among women. Such experiences, they said, continue to create mistrust and anxiety among residents. Beyond health, leaders emphasised the importance of plans for decommissioning oil sites. They insisted that any project must include legally binding commitments to restore land after production ends, as pastoralism remains the backbone of Turkana’s economy. The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) was criticised for failing to enforce environmental safeguards and for inadequate community engagement.

BHRC invited Tullow Oil to respond to the allegations. Tullow Oil did not respond.