Recent discoveries of oil and gas in eastern Africa often happen in marginalized and underdeveloped areas, such as Turkana, Kenya, an arid county inhabited predominantly by pastoralists. As a result of low political participation and weak governance frameworks for the emerging hydrocarbon industry, the pastoralists face displacement from land, exposure to environmental hazards, and exclusion from decision-making and benefit-sharing arrangements. Their interests are further sidelined by elite capture and a strong national development agenda supported by international actors. Community members have aired their grievances against both the investor and the state through protests, disrupting company operations. This work argues that two of the pillars of environmental justice, participation and recognition, are lacking in the county and that authentic participation should be pursued to avoid destruction of community capabilities and conflict. Because there is historical opposition to the state and its allies, the county government should consider working closely with trusted providers in the county, namely, faith-based organizations and their civil society counterparts, to bring about more authentic participation, community empowerment, and ultimately better governance for just distribution of benefits and harms.

中文翻译：

---

偏远地区的新石油开发：肯尼亚图尔卡纳的环境正义和参与

最近在东非发现的石油和天然气通常发生在边缘化和欠发达地区，例如肯尼亚的图尔卡纳，这是一个主要由牧民居住的干旱县。由于新兴碳氢化合物产业的政治参与度低和治理框架薄弱，牧民面临流离失所、面临环境危害以及被排除在决策和利益分享安排之外。他们的利益被精英俘虏和国际行动者支持的强大国家发展议程进一步边缘化。社区成员通过抗议表达了对投资者和国家的不满，扰乱了公司的运营。这项工作认为，环境正义的两个支柱，参与和认可，县缺乏，应该寻求真正的参与，以避免破坏社区能力和冲突。由于历史上反对国家及其盟友，县政府应考虑与县内可信赖的提供者密切合作，即基于信仰的组织及其民间社会同行，以实现更真实的参与、社区赋权，并最终实现更好的治理以公平分配利益和伤害。