Turkana,
Friday, March 22, 2024
KNA by Peter Gitonga
Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai has called on Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) to ensure that local communities benefit from its projects including in corporate social responsibility.
Speaking in Lodwar on Thursday when he hosted a team from KenGen led by its Managing Director Peter Njenga, Lomorukai said the Turkana leadership was keen to ensure that residents got their fair share from the power plant’s revenues as it hosts the Turkwel Gorge.
He said there was a need to have a Memorandum of Understanding to guide the County Government’s engagement with the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen).
He said a legally binding framework would enhance inclusiveness, transparency and enable residents of Turkana to benefit from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), employment as well as business opportunities available at the Power Plant.
“There are numerous concerns that we are keen to have addressed by KenGen particularly on resource sharing and power connectivity. We feel that we are not getting the necessary support,” he said.
He also highlighted water challenges, insecurity and displacement of residents from their ancestral land due to conflicts associated with feuds over the Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC.
He insisted that the Turkana leadership must be engaged on the proposal by Tullow Oil Company to pipe oil water from Turwell Dam to South Lokichar Basin where oil fields are situated.
The governor also reminded the management of the company of President Ruto’s promise to extend power connectivity from Lokichar to Kalokol via Lodwar.
In response, Eng. Njenga said the Company had already purchased pipes to connect water to Lorogon village and primary school before the end of this month.
He also appreciated the call by the leadership to dialogue and expressed the Company’s willingness to trade with local businesses in areas where power plants are stationed.
Courtesy; KNA
