Deal #10446

The consultation process with Indigenous communities for the Lake Turkana Wind Power project was inadequate, as it did not fully respect the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Indigenous communities, including the El Molo, Turkana, Samburu, and Rendille, were not adequately consulted or informed about the project's impacts, leading to significant concerns and legal disputes. The lack of proper consultation resulted in displacement and a failure to acknowledge the communities' traditional rights to the land.

The communities reacted to the LTWP project with frustration and legal action due to the lack of adequate consultation and compensation. They complained that their rights to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) were not respected and that the land acquisition process was irregular. The lack of inclusion and the imposition of the project without their participation generated strong opposition, leading the communities to sue for the regularization of the situation and the return of the unused land.

The project did result in the displacement of people. Specifically, the Sarima village was relocated to make room for the project, affecting approximately 1,180 individuals. These relocations led to significant issues, such as increased population in the new village, substance abuse, prostitution, and inadequate sanitation facilities​.

The impacts on the communities from the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project include the displacement of ancestral lands without proper consultation, and the lack of recognition as indigenous peoples, thereby avoiding stricter safeguard policies. Additionally, the project has caused cultural and economic disruptions, such as the destruction of significant sites. There have been conflicts and threats of repression from the government to clear roadblocks set up by the communities. There is also concern for wildlife, particularly migratory birds. In response, the communities have resisted these actions, defending their lands and rights.

Sarima Indigenous Peoples Land Forum.