This archive report was first published on 2 December 2019.
Published on December 2, 2019, a dispute has emerged between the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) and residents of Kabazi in Subukia sub-county over plans to drill geothermal wells on their farms.
The residents, numbering over 400, claim they were not consulted before the company submitted a proposal to the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) in late October 2019.
GDC Director Kamau Kuria stated that the project cannot be cancelled by the company, as it is a government programme, and will only be halted if Nema dismisses the proposal.
"Unless the project is cancelled by either Nema or the Parliamentary committee on Lands and Natural Resources, GDC has no powers to abort it," Kuria said.
However, the residents, led by their MCA Peter Mbae, argue that GDC never consulted locals before handing over its proposals to Nema, and fear that the project will render a section of the locals homeless.
"The problem here is that GDC never consulted anybody and is not ready to listen to the plight of the residents," Mbae said.
