Kenya Wildlife Service says power plant in Hellsgate Park has no effect to environment, wildlife

By Antony Gitonga

NAIVASHA, KENYA: Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has moved in to allay fears that the ongoing construction of the 280 megawatts power plant inside Hellsgate National Park was affecting wildlife and the environment.

With new roads and buildings being constructed inside the park, environmentalists have raised concern over the biggest project in the world that will end in September 2014.

KWS assistant director Jonathan Kirui said that an impact assessment study had been done and the geothermal project had been certified as safe.

Kirui termed tourism and energy as major projects which would see the country achieve vision 2030.

“Conservation and development goes on hand in hand and we have harmonized this in the ongoing geothermal works in Olkaria,” he said.

He at the same time announced that they had embarked on repairing damaged roads in various national parks in the country.

Kirui noted that KWS had suffered major losses due to heavy rains that had been pounding parts of the country.

“Roads in our parks were the extensively damaged by the rains and we have embarked on major repairs,” he said.

The director was speaking during the launch of the annual Hellsgate wheelbarrow race in Naivasha.

The race which will be held on the 8th of June has already attracted tens of participants and targets to raise Sh30m.

“Funds raised from this event will go towards conserving Hellsgate and Mt Longonot National park,” he said.

Speaking during the function Kengen geothermal development manager Godfrey Muchemi termed Hellsgate as en endowed park.

He defended Kengen which is the main sponsor of the event noting that the ongoing geothermal works in the park observed and respected the environment.

“We have an agreement with KWS in our activities here and the ongoing activities have minimum effect on the environment,” he said.