March 26, 2015
Kenya

Judge stops Kinangop wind power project

By MAUREEN KAKAH, Tuesday, March 24, 2015, nation.co.ke

The High Court has temporarily halted a Sh13 billion wind power project meant to generate electricity in Kinangop.

Justice Munyao Sila issued the orders stopping the implementation of the 60MW Wind Park Power Project after 10 residents living in the area went to court.

They have sued three companies involved with the project, the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), the Energy ministry, the county governments of Nakuru and Nyandarua and the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General.

The residents alleged that the land for the project had been fraudulently acquired, the initiative did not meet international standards and that no environmental impact assessment had been done hence the project poses a health hazard.

They claimed that the project’s approval has compromised the Energy ministry, the two county governments and the IG.

They also claimed that the three companies – Afolus Kenya Limited, Kinangop Wind Park Limited and Kinangop Wind Park Lease Limited – were using violence and blackmail to forcibly persuade them to accept the project.

The judge ordered that the project be halted as well as a decision by Nyandarua County Commissioner summoning one of the residents over the project.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/03/26/judge-stops-kinangop-wind-power-project/