A Kenyan wind farm company has expressed its regret over the death of a teenager. Kinangop Wind Park CEO James Wakaba called the shooting “regrettable” after the teenager was killed following protests against the building of a £92m wind farm.
Kenya’s Daily Nation reports the teenager was shot when protesters stormed a Police Post in order to free nine fellow protesters who were being held on incitement charges.
The proposed wind farm in Nyandarua has caused considerable controversy locally, with one family claiming they have been left out of talks despite a turbine being built on their land. A family member said: “One of the turbines is set to be erected on our farm, but we have never been approached by anyone.”
Noah Wambugu, a local farmer opposed to the development, told the Star it was a “milking cow” for a few individuals trying to enrich themselves, adding that some residents were willing to die to protect their land. Hundreds of families faced being evicted from their homes, he said.
Another farmer, James Kairu, said the wind farm had split the community and caused unnecessary animosity. He also said the local MP, Stephen Kinyanjui, was implicated in the project, accusing him of excluding the majority of farmers from the agreement to build the wind farm.
Mr Wakaba had earlier dismissed fears that the wind farm would be a health hazard, saying the company had adopted “world accepted standards”, adding: “The fears expressed by the residents are unwarranted. This is the cleanest form of energy.”
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