To better understand the Nigeria oil story, you need to consider that its oil was discovered in the 1950s.
If the same happened in Kenya pre independence, when there were very few educated people, the following would have happened;
1. The colonial masters would have entrenched their interests using BP by striking 'sweetheart' deals to last a life time.
2. The barely educated thieving classes that took away all the prime land at independence would have connived with the beneficiary foreign companies to create a kleptocracy supported by personal militias financed with proceeds of corruption.
3. The sons and daughters of these thieving masses would have joined Dangote in the league of the wealthiest Africans.
4. Kenya would be known as the land of 1000 coups and whispered democracy.
5. I would be writing this using blood from the tip of a bayonet as I would have joined regional militia groups.
6. None of you would be reading this as we would all be in the frontline protecting our very own Al haji's
Ghana and in part Angola offer salutary lessons on management of oil wealth. We are lucky that these resources are only being unearthed after years of trying to build institutions. Our story may not be as smooth as that of Norway, but it should be an improvement on what Ghana has done. Yes corruption will be there but you can bet all you cows that within the next 5 years, we will have some of the biggest fish in this country cooling their heels in prison for corruption. Once the public prosecutor gets a taste of blood, he will be like a wolf and will look for more kills.