This archive report was first published on 3 August 2019.
On August 3, 2019, residents of Bahati constituency in Nakuru took to the streets to protest the alleged illegal transfer of 400 acres of community land to the geothermal development company, GDC.
The residents, led by their MP Kimani Ngunjiri, accused GDC of sidelining locals in employment opportunities and failing to comply with government directives that reserve certain tenders for the youth, women, and minorities.
According to Ngunjiri, he has raised the issue with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Director of Public Prosecutions, who have pledged to investigate the land transfer process and individuals involved.
The protesters also claimed that locals were yet to benefit from electricity generated by independent power producers cleared by GDC to operate on the floor of Menengai Crater.
They alleged that GDC was reserving menial jobs for outsiders and bypassing qualified candidates from the constituency.
The locals threatened to disrupt operations of the state corporation for ignoring their pleas for employment and business opportunities.
They also stated that GDC had not openly engaged locals on environmental impact assessment reports over their activities.
Locals engaged in quarrying and farming claimed that GDC was contracting individuals from other areas to supply it with building materials and foodstuffs.
