A Geothermal Development Company project. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has been locked in a
stand-off with residents of Kabazi in Subukia sub-county over its plans
to drill wells on their farms.
The State-owned firm is
planning to drill five geothermal wells, a move the residents have
protested on grounds that they were not consulted before the company
submitted the proposal to the National Environment Management Authority
(Nema).
According to GDC Director Kamau Kuria, the
company will only halt the plans if the environmental watchdog dismisses
its proposal.
Mr Kuria argued that the project cannot be cancelled by GDC since it is a government programme.
“Unless
the project is cancelled by either Nema or the Parliamentary committee
on Lands and Natural Resources, GDC has no powers to abort it,” he said.
However,
more than 400 residents led by their MCA Peter Mbae argue that GDC
never consulted locals before handing over its proposals to Nema.
Mr Mbae expressed fear that the move will render a section of the locals homeless as the project could see majority displaced.
“The problem here is that GDC never consulted anybody and is not ready to listen to the plight of the residents,” said Mr Mbae.
The
residents have also accused GDC of submitting Environmental Impact
Assessment report (EIA) to Nema which was published late October this
year, while only giving residents a month to submit their views.
The locals who spoke to Nation said they are now living in fear of being displaced as well as suffering disruption to their normal farming activities.
They are now calling on Nema not to issue a greenlight that will lead to implementation of the project.
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