Environmental Concerns Emerge Over Major Energy Projects in Northern Kenya

New information released by the National Environment Management Authority has raised serious concerns about whether some major energy projects in northern Kenya are fully meeting environmental requirements. The issue came to light after documents were submitted to the Commission on Administrative Justice, following a request for access to public information.

According to the authority, its official Environmental Impact Assessment register only contains records for two energy related projects located in Marsabit County. This has created uncertainty about the compliance status of other large projects in the same region, especially those that play a key role in Kenya’s energy sector. Among the projects now under scrutiny are the Lake Turkana Wind Power and the Ethiopia-Kenya electricity transmission line, both of which are important for electricity generation and regional power connectivity.

The authority confirmed that beyond the two listed entries, there are no additional records captured in its system for the projects in question. One of the recorded entries relates to a transmission line connected to the Lake Turkana wind project, whose environmental licence was later transferred to the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company. The other entry involves a proposed wind power project by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company, which is still at an early planning stage.

The absence of complete records for such major developments has raised questions about whether all the required environmental procedures were properly followed and documented. Environmental Impact Assessments are essential in ensuring that large projects do not harm ecosystems or local communities, and any gaps in documentation could suggest weaknesses in oversight or reporting processes.

Experts warn that unclear or missing compliance records could lead to serious consequences. Investors involved in these projects may face legal risks, project delays, or increased scrutiny from regulators and the public. This situation could also affect confidence in how environmental regulations are enforced, especially for projects that are central to the country’s development plans.

The findings have now placed pressure on the environmental authority to explain the situation. It remains unclear whether the missing records are due to administrative errors, poor data management, or possible non-compliance by project developers.

Read Also: Kenya Railways Expands Workforce as SGR Growth Creates New Career Opportunities

By Deborah Sivyatsomana Kavira