Impact of renewable energy projects on Kenyan pastoralists

The report “The impact of renewable energy projects on indigenous communities in Kenya” (2019, 44pp) by Ilse Renkens was published by the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) in Denmark. It investigates the impact of two renewable energy projects on pastoralists in Kenya: the Lake Turkana Wind Power project and the Olkaria Geothermal Power project. The main pastoralist groups in the area of the wind project are the Turkana and Samburu; the main group in the area of the geothermal power project are the Maasai.

Kenya is well on its way in a transition to its goal of 100% renewable energy. This report looks at the potential negative impacts of such projects with regard to benefit sharing and how land is acquired and used. These projects in pastoralist areas are not upholding the social, economic and cultural rights of indigenous peoples (IPs). This is because of a failure to recognise IPs, which means that IP policies are not triggered; a lack of recognition of land rights; a lack of consultation and free, prior and informed consent (FPIC); and a failure to address the unintended social and economic consequences of renewable energy projects. The case studies point to the need to include pastoralists in project design and implementation and to respect the global rights of IPs.

Posted on 8 March 2021 in Pastoralism & Climate Change, Pastoralism & Extractives