Story

Kenya: The People of Turkana County

March 11, 2015 | Pulitzer Center
By
Guillaume Bonn

Many people across Turkana County have been issued guns by the Kenyan government to protect against attacks from the against the neighboring Pokot tribe during cattle-rustling raids. People issued guns automatically become part of the Kenya Police Reserve (KPR), which was formed in 1948 to assist the regular Kenya Police in the maintenance of law and order. In rural areas of Kenya, the KPR are often the only police presence, Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

Hotel restaurant in Kainuk, a village which has a bad reputation when it comes to cow-related violence. It lies on the border of territories occupied by two tribes that have been engaged in a centuries-old conflict over cattle. The conflict has become increasingly violent in recent months, fueled by a severe drought and a recent flurry of large oil discoveries. Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

Christopher Kiarie in his office at the Turkana Basin institute founded by Dr. Richard Leakey. The institute has an affiliation with Stony Brook University in New York. Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

Traditional Turkana women and children in front of their hut. Their village lies on the border of territories occupied by their own tribe and the Pokots. The two tribes have been engaged in a centuries-old conflict over cattle. Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

A Kenyan Wildlife Service officer makes a call to ask for a boat to collect three fish poachers he just arrested on Central in Lake Turkana, which is a national park. It is forbidden to fish in the area. Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

A fisherman in Longesh village on the shores of Lake Turkana says that if the water from the lake vanishes because of the dam that’s being built across the border in Ethiopia, it will create more insecurity in the region. Turkana’s indigenous communities are highly dependent on the lake for their food crops, livestock grazing and watering, and fishing. Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

Tullow, the British oil exploration company has imposed a 40 kph speed limit on all their vehicles in the Turkana region and employs members of the community as road marshals. This woman, who is one of the marshals, either stands or sits all day near the roads that Tullow cars use. Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

Joyce Ekunoit (right) and a family member who helps run the small hotel she owns in Lokichar town. Since Tullow moved into the area she has had to expand the room capacity of her establishment. Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

Losinyono Kotol, 45, stands flanked by his security guards in their village, Agelis. Kotol, the head of operations for the herding community's security, defends against attacks from the neighboring Pokots. Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

An expat employee of Tullow near the operating control system of an oil rig, which is manned by one person around the clock. Turkana County, where Tullow is operating, is an arid region, long neglected by successive Kenyan administrations. However, in recent months, Turkana County has become a key area of interest for the Kenyan government and investors following reports of the discovery of an estimated 250 million barrels of crude oil. Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

Traditional Turkana women in Lokichar town. Turkana people live a traditional lifestyle but are increasingly affected by the gradual encroachment of the modern world. Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

Traditional Turkana men. Most of them carry rifles for protection. Their village lies on the border of territories occupied by their own tribe and the Pokots. Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

Two Kenyan workers in the oil fields. While production is not expected to begin for several years, the Turkana oil finds have been celebrated. Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

An expat employee of Tullow near the operating control system of the oil rig. Oil revenue is seen as a solution to poverty in the region, but behind the optimistic rhetoric, the prevailing political and security environment in Turkana County is similar to that which sparked insurgency in the Niger Delta. Image by Guillaume Bonn. Kenya, 2014.

Life in Turkana County is changing. Even though commercial production isn’t expected for another several years, the recent discovery of potential reserves of up to 250 million barrels of crude oil has caused tensions to rise in the Turkana region.

Many view the possible oil revenue as the solution to poverty. Already, it has caused a surge in property prices, increasing economic migration and exacerbating ancient boundary disputes. While the British-owned oil exploration company, Tullow Oil PLC, is employing local residents, and business owners are expanding to cater to the company’s needs, the situation remains volatile.

If the political and security climate is not addressed, Turkana County could become a theater for oil conflict.