Turkana County, Kenya - A significant land challenge has emerged as a key obstacle in the progress of the Green Mini-Grid (GMG) Program in Turkana County. This issue was brought to light during a meeting between a delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD) and the county's Deputy Governor, Dr. John Erus.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Regional Director of the French Development Agency, the project has been instrumental in aiding various developers, including Renewvia and KUDURA Power East Africa, in establishing mini-grid sites in Turkana. However, she disclosed that difficulties related to land acquisition have led to delays, impacting the project's timeline and the utilization of allocated funds.
Ngarnim updated the attendees on the GMG project, funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and EU AITF. The project's goal is to develop 80 mini-grids across six counties in Kenya, with a completion target of March 31, 2024.
Deputy Governor Dr. Erus responded to these concerns by assuring the AFD delegation of the county government's dedication to resolving the land issue expediently. He reiterated the government's commitment to work collaboratively with partners to improve the quality of life for its residents and recognized the crucial contribution of the French Development Agency to this endeavor.
The meeting, which focused on addressing the challenges faced by the Green Mini-Grid Program, was also attended by the Deputy County Secretary Joseph Nyang'a, along with several chief officers and representatives from the French Development Agency.