Gabra leaders reject objections to Marsabit wind project, defend host status
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 26 – Leaders from the Gabra community have strongly dismissed objections raised against the Marsabit Wind Power Project in Gas, terming them misleading and an attempt to derail a project with direct benefits to the local population.
In a letter addressed to the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), Tura Ruru Elema, the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for North Horr Ward and spokesperson of the Gabra community, said the criticisms levelled by joint host community professionals from Laisamis Constituency do not reflect the interests of the true host community.
“The Gabra community of Gas is the sole indigenous group residing in the project location, and we fully support its implementation,” Elema said.
“Attempts to rename, reroute, or relocate the project offices are unacceptable and will be firmly resisted.”
The letter directly addressed four key issues: the naming of the project, road access and route, office site location, and community engagement.
Elema insisted that the project, being located 100 percent in Gas, should rightfully be named the Gas Wind Power Project. He dismissed suggestions to change the road access route as costly and unfounded.
He further argued that the project’s administrative offices must remain in Gas, where the actual turbines will be installed, stating that it would be “impractical and unacceptable” to relocate them to appease outsiders.
Elema underscored that the Gabra community remains the only legitimate host and custodian of the land and warned against external interference in project affairs.
“We will not allow any group living outside Gas to derail, delay, or misappropriate the benefits meant for the legitimate host community,” he said.
The Marsabit Wind Power Project is expected to bring jobs and infrastructure to the region.
Gabra leaders have urged all stakeholders to respect their host status and avoid campaigns that could incite division or stall development.
