By JOSEPH MASHA
The Ministry of Energy has opened fresh negotiations with owners of a 330-acre land earmarked for a coal-electricity generation plant in?Kilifi County.
The discussions stalled after the landowners and local leaders claimed they had been sidelined in the initial stages of the project.
But yesterday, a geologist from the ministry John Omenge told The Standard the Government had initiated fresh talks with the landowners to educate them on the benefits of the project.
“The Ministry of Energy which is implementing the project has opened fresh talks with the land owners?at Zowereni in?Ngerenya Location and has assured them that they will be well compensated for their?land,” said Omenge in Kilifi yesterday.
earmarked
A spokesman of the landowners Benjamin Dadu demanded to know why the Government earmarked their land before consulting them.
secret survey
“The Government seems to have a hidden agenda about this power project because some officers from the Ministry of Lands and the contractors met with local chiefs to survey the site secretly,” said Dadu.
Dadu claimed local people were not aware of the Gazette notice through which the ministry acquired the land.
He claimed the project would pose an environmental problem to the local community.
Omenge, however, assured the residents ministry officials would hold meetings with them before signing any agreements. He also denied reports the project had already kicked off, saying it was still at the feasibility studies stage.
He also said the National Environment Management Authority would conduct an environmental and social impact analysis of the project.
