Irony of village next to Turkwel Power Station that has stayed dark for over 3 decades

Located 76 kilometres from Kapenguria in West Pokot County, the Turkwel Hydroelectric Power Station has done very little for the host community.

When the sun sets, the Ritting community is forced to stop trading and transacting any other business and head for the safety of their homes, because 30 years since the plant was commissioned, this town is yet to be connected to the national grid, despite being the host community.

These powerlines passing overhead are a mirage to the community, who have to contend with a lack of social amenities, even though they host a hydroelectric power station generating 106 megawatts.

“Kutoka mwaka ’90, stima ilitoka hapa ikaenda nairobi sisi hatuna stima nyumba yetu ni giza na stima inatoka hapa sisi hata biashara yetu hatufanyi mpaka usiku kwasabu ya stima, tunaomba watu wa Kenya Power apatie sisi stima tuendelee kama kenya wengine,” says Paulina Joram, a long-time resident of Ritting.

“Sasa sisi wakaaji wa hapa hatuna stima hata kwa hizi manyumba stima inatoka hapa na inaenda nairobi inasaidia wale wa huko juu hapa tuko na shida ya nyoka, nyoka inatembea usiku hata unaeza shtukia imeingia hata kwa nyumba lakini kama tunaeza pata stima hiyo mwangaza inaeza tuokoa,” another resident, George Madiwa, adds.

Contrary to the expectations of many who hoped the setting up of the power plant would open up the village and nearby towns, these mud structures in Ritting town paint the picture of a forgotten community, lacking a proper road network.

The Lochokee, Kositey and Emong villages folded up and moved elsewhere to pave the way for this dam, the dam stands as an enduring reminder of their betrayed expectations.

“Kuna wakati samaki tunaeza kupata hapa na tukikosa soko hatuna mahali pa kuweka kwasababu ya stima kama tunaeza kuwa na stima tunakuwa na defuser hapa tukipata samaki tunaweka tunauza kwa bei ambayo inastahili,” Samson Awiti, a fisherman says.

Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto says, “Na ni kwako ambayo ungekaa na ulale hapo hivi bado kuna laxity kubwa sana inaonekana kenya hawajavalue wengine.”

With the anticipated operationalization of the new electricity transmission line from the Turkwel hydropower generation plant, energy CS Davis Chirchir acknowledged the community’s outcry, noting that the problem will be progressively solved once more power lines are installed.

“We have that program to ensure the community living around also get the benefit by facility being there,” the CS said.

 The residents have faulted the Turkwel Hydroelectric Power Station for continuing to draw profits from the generation of electricity while failing to give back to the community by setting up social amenities as corporate responsibility projects as a way of lifting the status of the area that has hosted the company for three decades.