Tension remains high in Ol Rongai, Rongai Sub-county, Nakuru County, as more than 163,000 residents from 16 villages have united in opposition to a planned displacement by the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) for geothermal energy drilling.
The affected villages including Ol Rongai, Marigo, and Rigogo have voiced strong resistance to any plans that would force them off their ancestral land. During a tense community meeting with local leaders, residents expressed frustration, saying they were never properly consulted and are unwilling to leave the land that sustains their livelihoods.
“When we had a public hearing, NEMA [National Environment Management Authority] told us they would visit the ground before approving the license, but that never happened,” said Timothy Ng’etich, a local resident.
Another resident, Kibet Komen, recounted years of broken promises by GDC: “We started with them in 2009, and they have been lying to us that they would provide water, fix roads, build health centres, and employ our youth. None of that has happened.”
The residents have now enlisted the services of High Court advocate Mark Ondaga, who stated that the community is prepared to seek legal redress should the government fail to act. “These are peaceful people, highly organised, and very conscious of their rights. We have already succeeded in having one of the licenses challenged in court due to lack of public consultation,” he noted.
The community is demanding the immediate cancellation of GDC’s license, giving the government a two-week ultimatum to address their concerns. They argue that the move by GDC violates constitutional provisions on public participation and the right to land ownership.
Local leaders have backed the community’s stand, calling on the government to prioritize the welfare of citizens over corporate interests.
As the deadline looms, the standoff underscores the growing friction between national development initiatives and grassroots communities demanding inclusion, transparency, and respect for their rights.
