Naomi’s research topic: Governing Oil in Turkana’s New Extractive Frontier: Local Authority, Land Rights and Inclusive Development
When oil was discovered in Turkana County, Kenya in 2012, it was presented as a pathway to national development, promising economic growth, improved infrastructure, and better livelihoods in one of the country’s most marginalised regions. My research examines how these expectations have unfolded in practice and what this means for local communities whose livelihoods and identities are closely tied to land.
Drawing on fieldwork conducted between August and October 2024 in Turkana and Nairobi counties, including interviews with community members, government officials, industry representatives, and civil society organisations, the study explores how governance processes—such as land access, compensation, participation, and benefit sharing—shape outcomes for local communities. While limited development benefits from extractive industries are often attributed to weak or lack of policies, laws or development plans, this research argues that they are better explained by a lack of community’s involvement in key decisions and crucially, a limited authority over land. Community responses over the social and environmental impacts in Turkana, demonstrate that community-led action can play a critical role in strengthening accountability and support more inclusive development outcomes. This research therefore advances an understanding that supporting community-led governance offers a practical pathway to improving development outcomes by returning authority over land, decisions and accountability to affected communities
I am grateful to DevNet and MFAT for supporting this fieldwork, and to all the participants who shared their time and insights. I am also grateful for the support of my supervisors for their guidance and encouragement through the research process.
Naomi Moraa Moya | PhD Candidate | University of Canterbury
