The National Environmental Complaints Committee (NECC) has directed the Geothermal Development Company to conduct a fresh Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the proposed drilling and exploration projects at Menengai in Nakuru County. The committee has also recommended that the Geothermal Development Company (GCD) ensures full public participation is conducted before applying for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) LICENSE FROM THE National Environmental Management Authority (Nema). This comes four months after thousands of residents of Menengai petitioned the NECC over plans to GDC to displace them to pave way for the drilling and exploration projects

The residents also claimed GDC had failed to conduct a proper public participation, before starting to implement the projects. Committee secretary Mary Njogu, in a report, noted that on 25 2025, the NECC received a complaint from Menengai West Stakeholders Forum (Mwesfo), regarding geothermal activities under phase one and two projects. The activities within the Menengai Caldera threatened to interfere with the neighbouring community and private land located within Menengai West in OI Rongai, Mariga, Rigogo and Kirima villages in Nakuru County. According to Ms. Njogu, the complaint alleged that for over 15 years, residents had seen increasing interest in geothermal exploration activities and subsequent proposals in the area and had always tried to openly rebut the projects because they felt they would negatively affect their livelihoods and the environment. The NECC noted that locals organized under Mwesfo had earlier voiced strong objection to the exploration activities dubbed Phase II, with complainants recorded in their public meeting on June 28, 2025. “The community claimed that GDC’s Phase II Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) were carried out without adequate stakeholder consultation and misrepresentation of population density in the area,” stated Ms. Njogu in the report.

Following the complaint, on August 25 and 26, NECC dispatched a team of seven individuals led by Ms Njogu, for further investigations. The team visited the country commissioner Lyford Kibaara’s office, had a community engagement with members of Mwesfo and also held consultative meetings with environmental stakeholders from the county and other representatives. In the report released last week, NECC noted that inadequate public participation was conducted in the most directly affected areas, after GDC wrongfully branded the community hostile. Instead, GDC held meetings in Morop, Losibil, Wanyororo, Maciaro, Kampi ya Moto and Mercy Njeri, effectively excluding Menegngai West ward. NECC noted that a foul odor was present within Menengai West and Menengai Caldera, which experts said irritates the respiratory system and cause nausea. “Noise from venting geothermal wells within the Menegngai Caldera was also audible from residential areas in Menengai West, rusted iron roofing sheets were observed on structures within Menengai West, the terrain of the Menengai Caldera was arid and semiarid, while the land in Menengai was arable and supported vast farms of canola, maize, potatoes, tomatoes, and wheat,” reads part of the report…

Consequently, NECC recommended that GDC develops and implements a community liaison strategy, with proper communication and feedback mechanism. The firm will also be required to clear all community concerns as soon as they arise. The Liaison, according to NECC should be tasked to manage the local community expectations by providing the correct position of the proposed project. On the other hand, Mwesfo was directed to submit their complaint in writing to Nema’s director-general, detailing the specific issues, including the inadequate assessment, lack of public participation and procedural flaws and if unresolved, further escalation options include the National Environmental Tribunal. “GDC and Nema should ensure before project begins, adequate public participation is conducted. Nema and the Public Health Department should ensure that GDC implements appropriate mitigation measures to address the reported health and environmental impacts arising from Phase 1 and take corrective action where necessary,” further reads the report.