The construction of Kenya’s very first coal plant has been stopped after residents and environmentalists went to court.
The ruling by the National Environment Tribunal, stated that the license for the project was issued with no assessment of the impact it would have on the environment, as well as on the health of residents within the area.
The decision by the tribunal is coming at a time when residents of Mpumalanga in South Africa are complaining of adverse health effects caused by the coal plants constructed in their area.
The Lamu Coal Plant was set to become East Africa’s first coal power station with a capacity to produce 1050 megawatts.
The project was being run by a group of companies which included Centum Investment and Gulf Energy Limited, all operating under the name Amu Power Company.
Kenyan government backed the project as well, making it known that it would contribute to industrialization and also improve the lives of many Kenyans.
According to the spokesman for the Kenyan government; Retired Colonel Cyrus Oguna, coal is the best source of affordable and reliable electricity.
Leaders in Lamu and environmental activists however, opposed the plan claiming it would lead to health problems, while also causing damage to the area.
Hussein Khalid who is the Executive Director of Muslims for Human Rights, told news outlet; Aljazeera, “If this project had been permitted to proceed, it would have had devastating effects on the environment and the health of people in Lamu.”
Another team who opposed the project is the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
In 2015, the committee issued a report detailing the negative effects the plant would have on the World Heritage Site nearby.
The activists who have welcomed the tribunal’s decision, also vowed to continue fighting against the coal project.
