[Source: Daily Nation, by Kalume Kazungu]
There is a ray of hope for owners of land earmarked for the establishment of the Sh21 billion wind power plant in Lamu after the project resettlement action plan (RAP) was launched on Wednesday.
The project by Baharini Wind Power, a consortium of Belgium firm Elicio Company in coordination with a Kenyan firm Kenwind Holdings Limited Company, is set to be established in Baharini village in Mpeketoni, Lamu West.
A total of 3,206 acres of land have been set aside for the establishment of the project which is expected to generate 90 megawatts of power upon completion.
But farmers in the area have on many occasion questioned the viability of the project owing to the fact that work is yet to start since the lands were first acquired back in 2011.
During the launch of the RAP, Baharini Wind Power Project Director Susan Nandwa disclosed that the entire exercise will be conducted by consultants from SGS Kenya, which is a world leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company.
Ms Nandwa said the resettlement action plan will be conducted within four months after which other procedures will follow before compensation of the land owners displaced to pave way for the project takes place.
The wind power project director called on locals to come forward and give their views which will aid the investor on how to go about compensating the affected people.
She said their target is to ensure justice is done to all the genuine land owners affected by the project.
Ms Juliana Tek, who is the head consultant at SGS Kenya, said his organisation is prepared to undertake the RAP in Baharini.
Speaking during the same event, Lamu West MP Stanley Muthama insisted on the need for the investor to ensure all the concerned parties are fully involved from the beginning to the end.
The farmers’ spokesman Linus Gachoki said the decision by the investor to commence the RAP in their village has renewed their hopes of getting compensation.
[Full article: Daily Nation, by Kalume Kazungu]
