Residents of Kinangop in Nyandarua County opposed to the Wind Park project expected to generate over 60 Megawatts of power, have argued their case in court.
On Friday, the residents who have put the multi-million key project in limbo, told Land Court in Nakuru that they were not consulted, but have instead been coerced to reside inside a hazardous industrial area.
Hundreds of residents filled the court with anxiety to follow the proceedings of the petition seeking to have the government compelled to compensate them with an alternative land.
They told the court that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report by National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) was inaccurate saying the project will be done in almost four locations in Nyandarua and Nakuru counties covering an area of 16 square kilometers.
Petitioners told court to declare the license giving the greenlight for the establishment of the Park as null and void before the turbines start turning to generate the renewable energy; a project said to be part of Kenya's Vision 2030.
Early this year, the court heard that one person was killed as a result of confrontation by residents opposing the project and those in support.
It was reported that majority of land owners oppose the project, but the government was accused of colluding with the company tasked with constructing the plant to force residents to accept it despite the proximity to their homes.
In that hearing, they claimed that their welfare was disregarded in a collusion between Nema and the international company, EcoGen tasked with commissioning the Kinangop Wind Park Project.
Justice Sila Munyao heard from the petitioners that no environmental assessment was done after the project was expanded from initial plans to generate 15Megawatts that was to be done on an individual 150-acre land parcel.
As a result, they claimed that they stand to suffer inevitable hazards caused by the project. Their Lawyer, Kibe Mungai said the report done in 2005 was conducted on the initial plans to establish the project on the 150 acres.
"They decided to expand the generation to over four locations, no new EIA was done as required by EIA Regulations Act of 2003 but it was just a modification of the initial report," Kibe argued.
The lawyer further submitted that the plant of such a magnitude is being constructed in total disregard of recommended international standards of at least 1,000 metres distance from residential houses which he says if implemented it poses great danger to over 200,000 families.
"This is a very dangerous project and countries with similar projects evacuated residents. It is just like any other industrial area. My clients have heard that if they won't move, they will be chased by the wind alone," Lawyer Kibe said.
The court set to have the respondents in the case, who include Kinangop Windpower Project, Nema, Nyandurua County Commissioner and five others argue their case on November 5.