A senator is calling Kenya's big oil deal a straight-up robbery. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who's also ODM Secretary General, blasted the Turkana Field Development Plan as a scam for shady dealers. He focused on Gulf Energy, the firm that replaced Tullow Oil last July. Sifuna claims its ownership changed several times right before the government approved the plan, calling it a mask for the real beneficiaries. His biggest charge is a quiet contract change from late November, hiking the company's maximum recoverable cost from 55 to 85 percent of revenue. He says this lets them claim almost everything for expenses like labor and fuel, leaving nothing for Kenyans.
Sifuna also accused the government of letting Gulf Energy skip local content rules, locking out Kenyan businesses and workers. He urged the public to submit feedback to the Senate Energy Committee before the January 16 deadline, warning that parliament is being used to rubber-stamp a bad deal. With Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi targeting first oil by late 2026, Sifuna's allegations could create major political and legal problems, potentially stalling the project as happened with Tullow. He framed the entire plan as a ticking time bomb for the country.
Sifuna also accused the government of letting Gulf Energy skip local content rules, locking out Kenyan businesses and workers. He urged the public to submit feedback to the Senate Energy Committee before the January 16 deadline, warning that parliament is being used to rubber-stamp a bad deal. With Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi targeting first oil by late 2026, Sifuna's allegations could create major political and legal problems, potentially stalling the project as happened with Tullow. He framed the entire plan as a ticking time bomb for the country.
