Deal narrative 8: Powering Kenya's Green Transition: Windfall for local pastoralists or just wind?

Kenya's wind energy boom promises a greener future, but what does it mean for the pastoralist communities living on the land where these projects are developed? Comparing the Lake Turkana and Kipeto wind power projects, this Land Matrix study examines how land rights, community participation and benefit-sharing shape local outcomes – and what lessons they offer for a more equitable energy transition.

Kenya’s rapid expansion of renewable energy is placing growing pressure on the country’s drylands, raising important questions about the impacts of wind power investments on pastoralist communities, their land rights and livelihoods.

This Land Matrix deal narrative examines two major wind energy investments in Kenya: Lake Turkana Wind Power (deal #4566) in Marsabit County and Kipeto Energy (deal #6655) in Kajiado County. Drawing on field research and stakeholder interviews, it explores how land tenure arrangements, community participation and benefit-sharing mechanisms shape the outcomes of renewable energy investments for local communities.

The findings reveal contrasting experiences. Around Lake Turkana, the failure to recognise customary communal land rights and limited community participation weakened local bargaining power. Despite promises of improved infrastructure, electricity access, employment and community benefits, many commitments remain unfulfilled.

The Kipeto project, by contrast, demonstrates how more secure land tenure can strengthen communities' negotiating position. Through land lease agreements, direct payments to landowners and a community development trust receiving 5% of annual company profits, the project has created additional income opportunities while allowing pastoralism to continue.

The study highlights that renewable energy development and pastoralist livelihoods can coexist, but equitable outcomes depend on secure land rights, meaningful community participation, transparent negotiations and accountable benefit-sharing arrangements. As Kenya's renewable energy sector continues to expand, these lessons are critical to ensuring that the green transition does not come at the expense of the communities whose lands make it possible.

Authors: T. Wario Hussein, Abdi Umar, Christoph Kubitza, Danya-Zee Pedra, Pascal Ogola, Ken Otieno

WHAT ARE DEAL NARRATIVES?

Deal narratives are investigations of specific LSLAs by the Land Matrix regional and global partners that provide an in-depth and detailed analysis of single deals in addition to its global database. This deal narrative focuses on Land Matrix deal #4566 and #6655. By making this information available, the Land Matrix aims to support broad engagement and information exchange, facilitating the continuous improvement of the data. The information on the deals is based on both secondary research and in-depth field research in the region involving the relevant stakeholders.

Acknowledgements and limitations

The Resource Conflict Institute (RECONCILE) sincerely acknowledges the communities, pastoralists, traditional leaders, elders, civil society representatives, and local stakeholders in Marsabit and Kajiado counties who generously shared their time, knowledge, and experiences through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. We are particularly grateful to the participants from Karare, Loglogo, Laisamis, Merille, Kargi, Sarima, Loiyangalani, El Molo Bay, South Horr, Ngurunit, and Kipeto, whose perspectives greatly enriched this study. We also express our appreciation to county government officials and other institutional stakeholders who provided valuable information, guidance, and logistical support during the research process.