Kenya: Local leaders urge govt. to end land disputes between local communities & investors in geothermal energy
"Nakuru elders caution KenGen land row risks geothermal power plan"
The protracted land row at the Ng’ati Farmers’ Co-operative in Maella, Naivasha, threatens geothermal exploration in the area, county leaders have warned. The Rift Valley Council of Elders says, if not solved urgently, the land dispute threatens to derail Kenya’s target of lighting up 70 per cent of households by 2017. “The ambitious project was aimed at further lowering the cost of electricity in the country but it is yet to take off. “The disputes must be solved with urgency to ensure exploration commences,” said council chairman Gilbert Kabage in Nakuru...
The leaders also warned that frequent land conflicts in the area may hurt investments in the geothermal rich region. “This land rows are not good as they are scaring away investors. Relevant State organs should bring land conflicts in the region to an end,” he said.