Tullow has been prospecting for oil in the region since 2012, and recently exported its first 250,000 barrels to a Chinese company for a reported $12 million. Tullow says the company and its partners have so far invested $2 billion into its Kenyan operations. Kenya's petroleum bill requires companies to divide what it owes to the government – giving 20 percent to local government, five percent to local communities, and 75 percent to central government.