October 27, 2014
Kenya

Kinangop residents reject power project

BY GEORGE MURAGE | The Star | October 27, 2014 | the-star.co.ke

The planned Sh13 billion Kinangop wind power project may fail to kick off after a row erupted pitting the government and residents of Nyandarua county.

Two days after the government announced that equipment for the construction of the 61mw wind power project had arrived at the Port of Mombasa, the residents said they would not allow the project to start because they had not been consulted.

During a highly-charged meeting at Ihindu trading centre over the weekend, leaders from Nyandarua and Nakuru counties rejected the project.

Led by the Nakuru county assembly majority leader Samuel Waithuki, the residents held a peaceful demonstration saying the government has not addressed issues they had raised about the project.

Residents want full compensation for their land before the project kicks off.

“We are shocked that the government insists the project will go on and yet we have not agreed on the issues raised,” Waithuki said.

He told the investors involved in the project to look for alternative land.

The MCA accused Naivasha MP John Kihagi of being impeding discussions with the government.

“The MP says those affected have been duly compensated while he knows clearly none of the residents has received the cash,” Waithuki said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/10/27/kinangop-residents-reject-power-project/