The construction of Kinangop’s 60.8MW wind farm has been cancelled. “Due to the consequent material delay, project funds have been depleted and the project can no longer be completed by the shareholders,” developers said in a statement.

The delay was due to land disputes between land owners, local farmers and project developers namely Macquarie Group and Old Mutual Investment Group. Last year, locals also opposed the project and got it to be suspended claiming the developers did not respect international standards in terms of distance between the infrastructure and residential areas. They also feared being forced to give out their lands.

The $144 million plant should have come online mid-2015 and powered 150,000 Kenyan households. The main investor of the project was Africa Infrastructure Investment Fund II. General Electric had already been selected to provide wind turbines.

Gwladys Johnson