Field Report On Stakeholder Engagement Along Garsen-Hola-Bura-Garissa 220kv TL

Introduction
REF: 220KV GARSEN-HOLA-BURA-GARISSA TRANSMISSION LINE REPORT
Background Information

The 220KV Garsen-Hola-Bura-Garissa Transmission Line traverses parcels in Tana-River

and Garissa Counties found in the northern region of Kenya. The region is occupied majorly
by pastoralists with the land owned by the county government of Tana River and few private
owners. Among the legal owners of land along the line are four ranches (Kibusu
Agricultural Ranch, Ida-Is-Agodana Ranching Co-operative Society, Giritu Ranching, and
Hagada Ranching).

Currently, the contractor has mobilized to site and stakeholder engagement was imminent. It
is with this reason that the PIT travelled to the ground from 21st September to 3rd October
2020 to carry out detailed stakeholder engagement and community sensitization meetings to
pave way for the contractor to start the construction activities. The team constituted of the
following:

1. Brian Muchilwa Project Manager

2. Raphael Mworia Corporate Communications

3. Richard Godana Senior Environmentalist

4. Maria Buku Project Land Economist

5. Geoffrey O. Mirasi Project Social Economist

6. Jillo Madras Project Surveyor

7. Bavon Enane Project Clerk

Methodology
The team held meetings with various stakeholders as per the below itinerary
Introductions: KETRACO
Opening Remarks DCC
Who is KETRACO Raphael Mworia/Brian Muchilwa
Benefits of the project Brian Muchilwa
Location affected Jillo Madras
Compensation process Maria Buku
Community Projects Richard Godana/ Geffrey Mirasi
Way forward Geoffrey Mirasi
Questions and Answer Community and KETRACO Representatives
Key matters discussed:
1. The transmission line is 235KM long from Garsen Substation to Garissa Substation,
with other substations located in Hola and Bura region, with a capacity of 220kV.
2. The wayleave will be 40 metres wide.
3. The line passes through group ranches which will be compensated to the ranch
owners and through the community land which will be compensated in accordance to
Community Land Act, 2016.
4. The community land will require formation of a committee, register a CBO or self-
help group, who will decide a project, through consultations with the community
leaders and the community as a whole, that will benefit the locals. The committee

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Field Report On Stakeholder Engagement Along Garsen-Hola-Bura-Garissa 220kv TL

will observe all protocols for forming a self-help group and or CBO. The county
government is the trustee of the community land. An MOU will be drafted between
the community and KETRACO for accountability purposes.
5. Unit of compensation is location: the amount will be based on the KM per individual
location affected. The boundaries used were the administrative boundaries.
6. Amount to be compensated per location will be done after truthing and approval
done to justify the allocation per KM affected. After truthing, the amount will be
disclosed.
7. Work with the local administration to implement the project: Executive order No. 3
8. The line has several benefits: local employment, power evacuation, power
transmission, system strengthening, system access, and boost in communication
through fibre optic among others. Tana River County will be on the national grid,
just like other regions.
9. During and after construction, safety is key to the locals. The contractor will ensure
the holes are secured; however, it is the initiative of the community to sensitize other
members over the same.

22nd September, 2020: Meeting with the Deputy County Commission Tana River
County at Hola
The team briefed the DCC on different matters with requests that could facilitate proper
implementation of the line.
Project Social Economist
1. Requested a meeting with the administration who will assist with mobilizing the
community
2. Requested the DCC to assist and motivate the local administration to be part of the
PIT in fast-tracking the project.
Co-operate Communications
1. Requested the DCC to encourage the local administration to work with KETRACO
to solve issues that might affect project completion.
2. Promised to have a selective allocation of the wayleave as requested by the local
administration
3. Explained the life cycle of the project.
Project Land Economist
1. Explained the compensation process according to Land Act for private land, ranches,
and community land, and insisted on selecting representatives for committees who
are not self-centred.
Project Manager
1. Explained the overview of lot 1 and lot 2 and explained the benefits of the project to
Tana River county communities: reliability, strategic implementation, and
communication.
2. The project to last for 2 years, but wayleave is a constraint that only leaders can help
to solve.
3. The main agenda of the travel was to sensitize the community.
Deputy County Commissioner
1. The need to engage the local administration is vital.
2. Suggested one project that could be of help to the locals: hospital.
rd
23 September, 2020: Meeting with local administrators at Hola
The team had meetings with the local administration at Hola to discuss how to coordinate
with the locals in order to achieve the implementation of the project. Of concern was the
formation of committees that will assist to choose the project. The team made it clear that
project implementation uses the administration line from the National government. The

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Field Report On Stakeholder Engagement Along Garsen-Hola-Bura-Garissa 220kv TL

compensation for community land will be in terms of projects and not private.
Concerns
1. Is the compensation right or privilege? Compensation is a right if there is legal
ownership of the parcel.
2. Why projects are dictated? They are dictated because of accountability: projects
should be sustainable and reliable.
3. Connect the contractor with the administration: chain of command should follow,
and the administrator should inform KETRACO of any misunderstanding
between them and the contractor, for the Project Manager to follow-up.
rd
23 September, 2020: Meeting with local administrators at Bura
Bura is a region dominated by aboriginal Tana river people, where they appreciate local
culture. Other communities approached the region because of opportunities. There is conflict
between communities because of trust issues with the different local administration.
Concerns
1. Why Madogo people were compensated privately but in Bura, it is compensated
communally? The Land Act was applied: defines privately owned and
community owned land, and the compensation process.
2. The survey did not include the administration during survey: KETRACO used the
administrative boundaries; however, truthing will be done to identify the actual
boundaries to facilitate compensation process.
3. How the locals will benefit from employment opportunities: currently, there are
three openings for wayleave officers, where recruitment is ongoing; however,
the locals will benefit from local employment from the contractor.
4. Previous issues between the contractor and the locals: the locals involved will
resolve any issues that affects them and the contractor through the project
manager.
th
25 September, 2020: Meeting with Director Lands at Hola
The meeting with lands officials was to help with the PDPs;.
1. The county government offered the piece of land to KETRACO, which was later
gazetted; however, the company should formalize the process for accountability
purposes.
th
26 September, 2020: Meeting with Baoma/Ndera community
The team met the community of Ndera location to sensitize them about the project.
Matters arising:
1. The distance from the line to the Garsen-Garissa Highway: the road is 3-4-5 KMs
away from the transmission line depending on the road contour.
2. Compensation: compensation will be done based on legal ownership. If it is
community land, the community land act will apply.
th
28 September, 2020: Meeting with Kalkacha and Bura communities
The team met the two communities (Kalkacha at 10:00 a.m and Bura at 02:00 p.m) to
sensitize them about the project. It was advised that the team to work hand in hand with the
elders who will advise KETRACO on what to do in case of conflict. The team was advised
to talk to the Contractors to respect the local culture considering that they are foreigners in
the region.
Matters arising:
1. Structure compensation: all structures have been captured and compensated. The
community should not build new structures along the wayleave corridor, they
should build 20 Metres away from the centre line on both sides.
2. Whom did the contractor lease the office land from? The land belongs to the Kenya
Forestry Service; thus the landlord is KFS. The contractor has a contract with

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Field Report On Stakeholder Engagement Along Garsen-Hola-Bura-Garissa 220kv TL

KFS as a legal owner.

3. Compensation in case of accident during and after construction: the compensation
will be done; however, on the point of contractor’s negligence; however, the
community should be vigilant and careful.
4. How the compensation money should be utilized? It is the community to decide on
the project under the supervision of KETRACO.
5. The Environmental Assessment Impact: the information is with NEMA offices.
6. Community suggested to choose the committee after compensation disclosure: the
earlier the better considering that KETRACO will deal directly with the chosen
committee.
7. Community suggested compensation to be done individually: compensation process
is constitutional for private land, public land, community land, and ranches.
KETRACO deals with the legal owner of the parcel.
8. The aspects of shrines and religious trees: they will be avoided; however, where
avoidance will cause huge economic impact, the team will follow guidance from
the local leaders. These issues will be dealt with during project construction.
9. Employment of the locals: labour laws will be followed during local employment.
There will be a balance in wayleave job distribution.
10. Substation at Bura: the land for the substation at Bura location was given by the
county government and will not be compensated, since it is the property of the
county government.
th
29 September, 2020: Meeting with Dukanotu and Chewele communities
The team met with locals of the above mentioned locations. The Duka Notu locals were not
very cooperative owing to how KETRACO had treated them in the previous project
(Kindaruma-Mwingi-Garissa Transmission Line). Locals at Chewele were keen to
understand the project and were ready for the line to begin.
Matters arising.
1. There were regions with cemetery and trees: the transmission line will not affect
the cemetery.
2. Who decides the compensation: compensation will depend on the KMs affected.
3. Power distribution in Duka Notu: KETRACO’s mandate is to transmit high
voltage power, KPLC’s mandate is to distribute. The PM to talk with other
distributors like REREC on any plan to distribute power to the region.
4. Employment opportunities for the skilled and unskilled: opportunities will depend
on the availability from the contractor’s side; however, for the unskilled labour,
the locals will be given priority.
5. How wild animals will be protected considering the line traverses the KWS land: it
will be handled at the KWS level.
th
30 September, 2020: Meeting with Saka chief and Sala communities.
Matters arising in Sala location
1. Is compensation before or after the project: it is a continuous process once the
conditions have been met.
2. Formation of the CBO/Self help group: it is constitutional to form the CBO and or
self-help group.
st
1 October, 2020: Meeting with Madogoo and Saka communities
The team met with the locals of the two communities to sensitize them about the project.
The team was briefed on the compensation process and locations where the line traversed.
There was a heated debate between locals of Madogo and those of Saka.
Matters arising:
1. Compensation: the compensation process will follow the legal process. Initially,
the locals at Madogoo were paid around ksh. 8,000 individually together with a

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Field Report On Stakeholder Engagement Along Garsen-Hola-Bura-Garissa 220kv TL

community project during the KMG TL. This has since changed after the
passage of the community land act that is now in force. That means
compensation will not be similar to that of KMG TL.
st
1 October, 2020: Meeting with Chifiri communities
The team met with Chifiri community for sensitization process. The community did not have
much objection on what was deliberated. Some of the issues they were concerned with
include compensation, the benefits of the transmission line, the deadline for boundary
truthing, and the number of CBOs to be formed. The community was encouraged to form
just one CBO for accountability purposes. The network issue facing the location will be
solved after the line is complete.
2nd October, 2020: Delivery and signing of offer letters
1. Kibusu Agricultural Ranch
2. Ida-Is-Agodana Ranching Co-operative Society
3. Giritu Ranching
4. Hagada Ranching
The Way Forward
1. To initiate contact with MP Bura
2. Request the county to nominate a team to support the PIT during project
implementation
3. Survey to conclude on the extent of the locational boundaries
4. Follow-up on formation of committees and disclosure of compensation payments
5. Conduct a meeting at Hosingo location which was skipped because of the gap on
survey maps.
6. Team to engage the selected committees from the first week of November
7. Fast track the allotment letters.

Report by:

Bavon Enane Sign……………….…….….. Date……………………

Approved by: Senior Manager- WA

Johnson Muthoka Sign…………………………… Date …………………...