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Article

4 May 2016

Author:
Kaki Comer, in Equitable Origin

Kenya: Community engagement key to success of renewable energy projects

"The Importance of Community Engagement in Renewables: A Tale of Two Wind Farms in Kenya"

When energy developers fail to employ best practices in community engagement or consultation, the outcome is more often than not unfavorable. Two illustrative examples of what community engagement best practices or lack thereof can do to support or doom a renewable energy project can be found in Kenya...

The Baharini Electra Wind Farm, a 90 megawatt (MW) wind project in Lamu, Kenya faced opposition from local residents throughout its development process. The project...was carried out by Belgian renewable energy developer Electrawind and its local partner, Kenwind. Community objections to the project first arose when over 8,000 Mpeketoni residents were not informed of the project’s intention to acquire their and thus evict them...On the other hand, the Kinangop Wind Park (KWP), a 60.8 MW, $115 million project in Kenya, was first proposed in 2012 and was cancelled before it could to go online as scheduled in mid-2015. Because KWP did not work with community landowners, the project was stifled by local opposition. Local opponents in this case also went to the courts, citing the project's proximity to local homes — reportedly as close as 20 metres — as a violation of regulations...

This all-too-common occurrence for renewable energy developers has a simple solution that is embracing community engagement and integrating free, prior, and informed consent into all projects. As these examples show, ignoring and even battling the neighboring communities will likely end poorly for energy developers. Through community consultation, hearing the concerns and needs of the people who the project will impact, and compensating them fairly kept the Baharini Electra project from suffering devastating losses.