This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
On August 26, 2019, West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo made a humorous request to President Uhuru Kenyatta during the flagging off of the inaugural shipment of Kenyan crude oil from the port of Mombasa.
He asked Uhuru to ensure a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the mineral should be disbursed to West Pokot as it is the source of the oil.
Comparing the oil revenue to a well-roasted full goat, Lonyangapuo requested that his people receive a fraction of the revenue, specifically the ribs.
He stated, 'My brother who was here before me did not tell you that the security for the oil came from West Pokot people. So we are just waiting for the ribs, you eat the legs but give us ribs. Others can get the head, hooves, skin and what not but spare us the ribs.'
The governor's request left Uhuru and other dignitaries in stitches, including Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho.
The export of the Kenyan crude oil marked the country's entry into the league of oil-exporting nations, with the first shipment consisting of 200,000 barrels.
The crude oil was harvested from Turkana oil fields by Tullow Oil and was exported to Malaysia, with a Chinese company, Chemchina, buying the first batch at KSh 1.2 billion.
