Akiira 1 Geothermal Power Plant Project: Maasai Community in Kenya Affected by Another Geothermal Power Project Speaks Out”

 Akiira 1 Geothermal Power Project (EIB-20140645) is Akiira Geothermal Limited's first geothermal exploration and power plant development project located south of the Greater Olkaria Geothermal Complex in Naivasha, Kenya… In April 2018, Narasha Community Development Group, in partnership with the International Accountability Project (IAP), worked together to provide project information through the Early Warning System to affected communities to facilitate their engagement in the project process. Dissemination of project information was followed by a community led research to gather information about their knowledge and expertise, and to seek recommendations for their effective engagement in the implementation of the project…

64% of the respondents indicated they were not consulted during the formulation of the project. However, the results indicate that 29% of the 36% who were consulted felt unsafe to share their true feelings, questions and ideas about the project while 33% indicated that they felt safe. One of the reasons that respondents that felt unsafe cited was fear of harassment by the company in case they expressed views opposing the project…At the time the data was collected, 73% of the respondents did not have information about the Akiira 1 Geothermal Power Plant Project and they lacked sufficient information regarding the project details such as where, when and how the company intends to carry out its activities…

47% of the respondents anticipate that they may lose their jobs/livelihoods while 43% may lose their land to the project without clear mechanism for compensation and/or resettlement.