"Turkana wind project title deeds nullified in land row"

The High Court in Meru has nullified title deeds for the land on which the Sh70 billion Lake Turkana Wind Power project sits, saying it was acquired irregularly. Judges Peter Muchoki Njoroge, Yuvinalis Angima and Grace Kemei said the Constitution was not followed when 150,000 acres of community land was allocated to Lake Turkana Wind Power Ltd.

But the judges declined to cancel the title deeds, giving the Marsabit County government, the Attorney-General, the Chief Land Registrar and the National Land Commission one year to regularise the process.The court ruled that if the process is not completed by the end of the 12 months, the title deeds for the 310MW power producer will automatically be cancelled and the land will revert to the community. In the landmark ruling that could open the way for the community to seek compensation, the government agencies will be required to hold public participation forums.