By Correspondent.
Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KENGEN) is planning a Sh7 billion wind power project in Tigania area is expected to kick-off soon.
The project was delayed after disagreements over ownership of the land after the process of issuing title deeds to residents on the nearly 19,000 acres meant for the project stalled after a section went to court.
The conflict involving residents, county government and KenGen is yet to be fully resolved as the matter of compensation to land owners looms large.
Meru County Land Executive Jeremiah Lenya said a committee comprising representatives from Tigania East and Tigania West Sub Counties had been formed to work to settle the disputes.
KenGen is bidding to acquire the land and compensate the land owners in order to start the 400-megawatt project which is expected to address energy challenges in the region. The long-running wrangles stalled the crucial project whose first phase was initially set for completion by December, 2017.
The power project is to sit on an area of more than 18, 000 acres in Meru North, an area that has for long suffered for lack of reliable electricity.
Meru County Assembly Majority Leader Victor Karithi said the area which is also on the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor had attracted land speculators keen to take advantage of the opportunities.
Mr Karithi who represents the residents of Athwana in the assembly petitioned the assembly and county government to “step in and protect residents against the speculators.”
Some of the affected areas are Libiita, Mwanika, Mweronkoro, Riinu and others in Tigania East and Tigania West.
