Tiaty residents freeze operations at GDC, push for compensation

Residents protest at Geothermal Development Company in Paka Hills, Tiaty, Baringo County on July 18, 2024. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Residents of Paka in Tiaty, Baringo County, who were displaced to pave the way for the exploration of geothermal, took to the streets on Thursday to protest the delay in compensation by the national government.

The locals blocked the road leading to the exploration site. Not a single vehicle belonging to the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) was allowed into or outside the site.

The locals chased away some of the GDC employees who were operating one of the drilling rigs and vowed not to allow operations in the area until they are compensated. At least 1,641 people were displaced to pave the way for the exploration. 

Residents said local leaders, led by MP William Kamket, have failed to follow up and have their issues addressed. 

Merimuk Chomil, one of the residents, said they have been getting empty promises hence the decision to protest. 

Chomil said the displacement forced them to start life afresh after their homes were demolished. 

“We were displaced to pave the way for the exploration having been promised compensation by the government. To date, we have not received even a penny,” said Chomil. 

Toriko, another resident, said the community has held several meetings with GDC and government officials who keep promising they would be compensated. 

In their last meeting with GDC board held on June 21, Toriko said, they were promised that they will get their money by the end of the month. They haven’t yet.

He said GDC Managing Director Paul Ngugi was responding to questions by the locals during a visit by the National Assembly Parliamentary Committee on Public Investment, Commercial and Energy Affairs led by Chairperson David Pkosing.

The government continues to take us in circles, and empty promises have been made to the community. We are suffering,” Toriko said. 

Toriko said, as a community, they will not relent in their push for compensation and will not allow drilling to continue. 

Geothermal exploration, he said, started in 2015 and not even a single person has been compensated yet.  

“All we want is to be told when we will be paid. We did not go looking for GDC and the government. They came looking for us and they got what they wanted,” he added. 

Toriko noted that following the displacement, some of the families lost their source of income as they lacked land to graze their animals. They expected to acquire land somewhere else and start life afresh with the compensation. 

“Let GDC and the government come clean on the issue of compensation. We need the truth,” he said. 

Nakapel Kadung’o, yet another resident, said when GDC officials said they will be compensated last month they prepared special bags to keep the money. 

Kadung’o said some of the community members are old and might die before receiving the compensation funds. 

“The compensation funds we were told was coming soon, the time was compared to the distance between the upper lip and the nose, little did we know it will take this long,” Kadung’o said. 

Kadung’o said some of the locals, the majority of whom are elderly, were wondering why GDC officials lied to them. 

He said they will not understand any other language other than compensation.

Jacob Ng’oletiang, the Community Land Management Committee chairperson, confirmed GDC had promised to handle the compensation issue. 

The locals, he said, were very much eager and were waiting.

GDC Company Secretary Agnes Muthengi called on the community to be patient.