A row is brewing between landowners and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) over unpaid compensation for land affected by the 220kV electricity transmission line project in West Pokot and Trans-Nzoia counties.
The landowners have threatened legal action if the company does not pay. Some have also threatened to destroy the power line towers, which would constitute criminal sabotage similar to that which plunged the nation into darkness a while back.
Landowners protest against Ketraco in Kapenguria on May 24, 2025.
Photo credit: Oscar Kakai | Nation
Residents are frustrated after waiting for many years for compensation. Hundreds of residents from West Pokot and Trans Nzoia counties have taken to the streets to protest against Ketraco, accusing it of failing to compensate them for land affected by the 220kV electricity transmission line project.
The aggrieved farmers, drawn from Turkwel, Ortum, Chepareria, Kapenguria, and Kitale, claimed that more than Sh200 million remains unpaid despite them surrendering their land title deeds before the construction began.
Uproar in West Pokot over unpaid land compensation by Ketraco
Daniel Chumaika said they submitted their title deeds in good faith but received them back without any compensation.
“We were given 90 days to wait for our payment. It's been close to two years now, and nothing has been reflected in our accounts,” he said.
Chumaika added that when they inquired about the delay, they were told that the project was funded by the World Bank, which was responsible for compensation. However, they were later informed that the national government had no funds to pay them.
"At the beginning of this year, we were told several times that the government doesn’t have money,” he said. “We have waited long enough. Now we are being forced to consider destroying the towers. More than 300 farmers are affected.”
Joseph Losemoi from Kapenguria echoed the frustrations and pleaded with the government to fulfil its promises.
“In 2024, the government assured us that we would be paid. But nothing has happened,” he said.
Samuel Kemoli, a resident of Turkwel, said that the local community has not benefited from the power line running through their land.
“The irony is that we don’t even have electricity in our homes,” he said.
Kemoli added that many residents had opened bank accounts in anticipation of the payment, but have not received any payment.
He said the community had grown tired of Ketraco's promises and had no choice but to seek legal action to force the company to either pay the dues or let them move on with their lives.
"Locals are frustrated. We've waited for far too long, and it's clear the company has no intention of paying us,” Kemoli said.
Landowners protest against Ketraco in Kapenguria on May 24, 2025.
Photo credit: Oscar Kakai | Nation
The demonstrators demanded immediate action from both Ketraco and the government, threatening further protests if their grievances were not addressed.
Ketraco has attributed delays in compensating farmers to a lack of funding from the National Treasury.
Landowners protest against Ketraco in Kapenguria on May 24, 2025.
Photo credit: Oscar Kakai | Nation
Responding to the allegations, Corporate Communications Officer Raphael Mworia said, "We didn't get money for the year 2023/2024 and also for the 2024/2025 financial year. The compensation project has not been funded by the Treasury simply because there was no allocation."
He added that the company has already requested the funds and is hopeful that the Treasury will allocate money in the next financial year.
"If we get an allocation from the Treasury for the next financial year, we will pay the farmers," Mr Mworia said.
