“Biggest Corruption Scandal Ever” — Sifuna Raises Alarm Over Turkana Oil Project

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has raised alarm over developments surrounding the Turkana oil project, warning that it could become the biggest corruption scandal in Kenya’s history if urgent action is not taken.

Speaking during a live Citizen TV interview yesternight, the ODM Secretary General claimed that troubling changes have taken place within the project at critical stages, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability.

Sifuna revealed that he was scheduled to travel to Turkana alongside members of the Senate Energy Committee to conduct public participation on the Field Development Plan (FDP) for the oil project.

According to the senator, it was during preparations for this process that red flags began to emerge regarding how the project was being handled.

He alleged that shortly before the FDP received approval from the Ministry of Energy, there were sudden changes in the ownership structure of the oil company that had been cleared to implement the plan.

Sifuna said these changes occurred within days, a move he described as highly suspicious given the scale and importance of the project.

Even more concerning, he noted, were alterations made to the original contractual terms soon after the FDP was approved.

The senator claimed that the cost recovery rate was allegedly adjusted from 55 percent to 85 percent in a matter of days, significantly reducing the potential revenue Kenya could earn from its oil resources.

“This is not normal,” Sifuna argued, stating that such drastic changes should trigger immediate scrutiny from oversight bodies.

He warned that these developments point to what he termed obvious corruption, adding that failure to confront the issue could deny Kenyans any meaningful benefit from the Turkana oil reserves.

“There are so many things that point to corruption. If we do not fight this issue, Kenya is not going to see a single shilling from that oil,” he said.

Sifuna stressed that oil exploration should be a transformative opportunity for the country, particularly for the people of Turkana, who have long awaited economic benefits from the discovery.

His remarks have reignited debate over governance in the extractives sector, with calls growing for greater transparency, independent audits, and parliamentary oversight.

As attention shifts to the Ministry of Energy and other regulators, Sifuna’s warning is likely to intensify pressure on the government to explain the controversial changes and safeguard public interest.