What Happened to East Africa's Oil Boom?

African Arguments published on 23 August 2017 a commentary titled "Whatever Happened to East Africa's Oil Boom?" by Luke Patey, Danish Institute for International Studies.

The author explains that domestic and regional politics continue to contribute to delays in the development of oil reserves in Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan. This situation is likely to continue.

Land Conflicts in Kenya

The Institute for Defense Analyses Africa Watch published on 1 June 2017 a brief item titled "The Roots of Conflict over Land in Kenya" by George Ward.

The analyses looks at the interplay of pastoralism, ethnicity, economics, land policy, and climate change in Kenya.

Kenya's Lake Turkana and Ethiopia's Hydropower Projects

The National Geographic magazine published in August 2015 an article titled "The Last Rites for the Jade Sea?" by Neil Shea.  It discusses the potential impact on Lake Turkana in Kenya of a series of dams on the Omo River in Ethiopia, which supplies 90 percent of the water for Lake Turkana.  It includes an excellent map in the upper left hand corner of the article that can be enlarged.

Hurdles to Oil Extraction in Kenya

The Washington-based Institute for Defense Analyses (IDS) Africa Watch published on 12 February 2015 a piece titled "Oil Extraction in Kenya--Political and Geological Hurdles" by Eliza Johannes, a staff member at IDS.

British-based Tullow Oil is responsible for oil exploration and development in Turkana County of Kenya, a region which has been the location of ethnic conflict between the Turkana and Pokot peoples.  The prospect of 600 million barrels of oil in the region has increased the level of violence.  Tullow Oil also estimates that every barrel of processed crude oil will require 50 gallons of water.  This part of Kenya is well known for water shortages.  Disputes over scarce water will further increase tension. 

Ethiopia's Gibe III Dam and Voices from Lake Turkana

International Rivers published in January 2015 a report titled "'Come and Count Our Bones': Community Voices from Lake Turkana on the Impacts of Gibe II Dam" by Narissa Allibhai.  The report provides the reactions of the Turkana and Marsabit people who live around Lake Turkana in Kenya to the construction of the Gibe III Dam on the Omo River in Ethiopia, which feeds Lake Turkana.