NLC to evaluate land again delaying Sh22b power project

Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter with Kajiado West MP Moses ole Sakuda during a consultative meeting between the Kenya Transmission Company and land owners in Isinya. [Photo: Peterson Githaiga]

Land affected by a Sh22 billion power project will be evaluated afresh.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter said he would write to Kenya Land Commission Chairman Muhammad Swazuri asking for the evaluation to be repeated. This was one of the resolutions reached when Mr Keter met some Kajiado leaders and land owners in Isinya Monday.

This came after they rejected compensation paid by the Kenya Transmission Company (Ketraco). Keter assured them that the Government would compensate them fully. "I'm here to represent the Government that you elected, and to make sure that the consultations will bear fruit so that everyone is paid his or her dues," he said.

The project stalled last year after the land owners and a section of county leaders demanded to know why the compensation for land owners in other counties was higher.

Land owners had vowed to prevent the contractor from implementing the project in the area until they were compensated. The Sh22 billion power scheme will pass through community land and private farms in Kajiado County.

The plant will generate more than 1,500 megawatts, which would be sufficient for the country and even some exported.

Interior Security Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery, who attended the meeting, urged the authorities to ensure that the row was resolved fast to pave way for the project's implementation.

Compensated fully

Ketraco Managing Director Fenandes Barasa said 110 out of 490 land owners are yet to be compensated. Kajiado East MP Peris Tobiko said the land owners would not take anything less than the 85 per cent of the land value paid in other counties.

She said Ketraco had offered 35 per cent compensation to the affected land owners in Kajiado County, while those in Makueni were offered 85 per cent.

"Why are we being discriminated against? We want to assure the power company that no project will kick off until our people are compensated fully," she added.