This archive report was first published on 4 November 2019.
Published on November 4, 2019, families from the Turkana community in Naivasha are facing eviction from Kedong ranch, a 1,000-acre land recently acquired by Akiira Geothermal Ltd (AGL).
The eviction order comes after Nakuru County Commissioner Erastus Mbui visited the area and instructed the families to vacate the land. The geothermal company plans to construct a multi-billion shilling geothermal plant on the land and has sought Sh9 billion from financiers.
Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner Mbogo Mathioya confirmed the planned eviction, citing that the squatters were frustrating the firm's exploratory drilling. However, the victims' spokesperson, Justus Ekeno, argued that a majority of the families had worked in the ranch for years and knew no other home.
Ekeno questioned the resettlement criteria used to relocate members of the Maasai community on a nearby piece of land, stating that the eviction would have adverse effects on the livelihood of the families. He added that they were keen to engage the State and the management of the ranch to find a solution.
It is worth noting that Kedong has already donated 4,000 acres to members of the Maasai community who have been affected by the construction of the dry port and industrial park in Naivasha.
