Editorials

EDITORIAL: End oil trucking impasse

oil

Trucks transport oil from Turkana to Mombasa under the Early Oil Pilot Scheme. PHOTO | PETER WARUTUMO

The impasse over transportation of crude oil from Turkana to Mombasa for storage puts Kenya’s journey towards petro-dollars on the wrong footing.

With the latest estimates indicating that over Sh200 million has been lost it may help if the authorities move with speed to sign the requisite agreements.

Claims of political interference, which may not be new in this case, need to be investigated and appropriate action taken to ensure smooth operation around this new and critical resource.

Kenyans may not be privy to a deal struck between concerned parties but there is need to formal the agreement in order to guarantee interested parties their stakes.

READ: Cost of Turkana oil impasse now rises to Sh200m

British explorer Tullow, which has sunk billions of shillings in the entire enterprise is now calling for a speedy resolution to the stalemate even as government officials keep mum over the issue.

Projected returns from oil exports are expected to ease the country’s revenue crunch and the faster we get there the better for all parties. Costs and jobs aside, the current schism may hurtle Kenya towards the oil curse cliché status.