Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has raised concerns over the transparency of the Turkana oil development deal, citing what he described as suspicious changes in the ownership of the company set to produce the oil.
Speaking on the matter, Sifuna noted that the company, now operating as Gulf Energy and formerly known as Tullow Oil, underwent multiple changes in name and ownership within a very short period. According to the senator, these changes occurred within weeks, and in some cases, just days.
“The ownership of the company that is to produce the oil changed names and hands multiple times in a matter of weeks,” Sifuna said.
He warned that such rapid restructuring is often a red flag in corporate transactions. Sifuna argued that legal experts would interpret the frequent changes as a possible attempt to conceal the company’s true ownership.
“Your lawyer will tell you that’s symptomatic of attempts to mask real ownership,” he added.
The Nairobi senator further questioned the timing of government approvals related to the project. He pointed out that the current Field Development Plan (FDP) was approved by the government only days after the last ownership changes were concluded, a sequence he described as telling.
Sifuna’s remarks add to growing public debate over governance, accountability, and transparency in the management of Kenya’s natural resources, particularly the long-delayed Turkana oil project.