Lamu, KENYA:Lamu based activists have warned the government against proceeding to establish a coal plant in the county terming it fatal.
A proposed Sh.200 Billion coal plant is to be set up at Kwasasi area in Hindi division by Amu Power,a consortium of Gulf Energy and Centum Investment.
The activists drawn from the Save Lamu,Lamu Youth Alliance,Lamu Marine Forum and environmental conservationists said there was a need for Kenya to embrace clean energy production and do away with the likes of the coal plant.
Led by Save Lamu Secretary General Walid Ahmed, the activists swore not to allow harmful projects to be established in the county.
Walid said it was impossible for the government to achieve environmental heal and safety if will allow the coal plant and similar projects to set foot on Kenyan soil.
He said they were willing to cooperate with the like-minded organization and even the government itself to ensure clean and safe environments are created and maintained.
“Kenya must speak in one voice in as far as environmental degradation is concerned. Everyone knows what a coal plant can do to the health of people, the environment and to marine life. The Kenyan government must stop the coal plant if there is any genuineness in the quest for clean environments which saw the plastic ban imposed. They must practice what they preach,” said Walid.
Ali Shebwana, a conservationist in Lamu urged the government to pursue alternative renewable green energy which is both clean and safe.
Shebwana also called on the government to respect the Paris Agreement which urges countries to employ safe energy production.
His sentiments were echoed by Lamu Youth Alliance chair Is’haq Khatib who asked the Kenyan government to resist the urge to gamble the lives of the Lamu people through the coal plant.
The proposed coal plant is projected to produce 1,050 megawatts of energy upon completion.
A total of 975 acres of land have already been acquired for the project
