Civil campaign helps court save Lamu from power project
The long campaign by Kenyan civil society groups against the country’s first proposed Lamu power project has finally come to an end after a court upheld a lower court decision overturning the environmental permit for the project.
Kenyan groups celebrate court ruling against coal plant
The chairperson of the Save Lamu campaign, Somo M. Somo, welcomed the decision of the Environment and Land Court rejecting an appeal by Amu Power against a lower court decision revoking an environmental license for the proposed 1.05 gigawatt (GW) Lamu coal power plant. “Justice for Lamu is justice for the planet. This ruling shows that when communities are heard, the law protects both people and nature,” Somo said. In 2019, the National Environmental Tribunal revoked the environmental permit for the plant. Residents, farmers, and environmental groups objected to the pollution impacts of the proposed plant on farms, the climate, and the nearby Lamu Old Town World Heritage site, with Save Lamu and a coalition of NGOs challenging the permit for the plant. In the latest decision, Judge Francis Mwangi Njoroge supported the initial tribunal decision, stating that “public participation was not conducted in accordance with the amended provision of law”. The court found “there was a failure to have a proper analysis of the location and project alternatives.” Amu Power is a joint venture between Centum and Gulf Energy Ltd. (Kenyan News Agency, Daily Nation, Mining.com, Global Energy Monitor)
Kenya News: Court Upholds Cancellation Of Lamu Coal Plant Licence
Kenya News By Shani Rhai and Emmanuel Masha
The Environment and Land Court in Malindi Thursday upheld a landmark 2019 ruling that revoked the environmental impact assessment (EIA) licence for the proposed Lamu coal power plant.
Justice Francis Njoroge dismissed an appeal by Amu Power Company Ltd, affirming a decision of the National Environment Tribunal (NET) cancelling the licence issued by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
The 1,050-megawatt coal plant, which had been planned for Kwasasi area of Lamu County, has faced sustained opposition from local residents, civil society organisations, and environmental activists for nearly a decade.
The case was filed by Save Lamu, with support from Natural Justice, Katiba Institute, and the DeCOALonize Campaign, which argued that the project violated constitutional rights and environmental laws.
Justice Njoroge, who delivered the verdict virtually, concurred with the NET that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process was fundamentally flawed and that it failed to meet legal standards for public participation.
He noted that the EIA report did not adequately address critical issues such as ash disposal, air pollution, and climate change impacts.
“The process violated Articles 42 and 69 of the Constitution, which guarantee every Kenyan the right to a clean and healthy environment,” the judge said. “Public participation, environmental protection, and respect for constitutional rights cannot be overlooked in pursuit of unsustainable projects.”
Speaking immediately after the landmark ruling, representatives of the environmental advocacy groups, hailed the ruling as a major victory for the people of Lamu and a milestone in Kenya’s climate justice movement.
Members of the groups sat patiently inside the courtroom as the judge, who was not present in the court room delivered the ruling via a video link from his laptop computer.
Elizabeth Kariuki, Director of Natural Justice Hub, said the judgment reinforces Kenya’s commitment to safeguarding both people and the environment.
“Development must never come at the expense of health, culture, or nature. This victory belongs to the people of Lamu,” she said.
Save Lamu Chairperson, Somo M. Somo, welcomed the decision, saying it had restored community trust in the judiciary.
“Justice for Lamu is justice for the planet. This ruling shows that when communities are heard, the law protects both people and nature,” he said.
Emily Kinama, Head of Strategic Litigation at Katiba Institute, described the ruling as monumental, noting that it affirmed the importance of public participation and the precautionary principle in environmental governance.
The judgment is expected to set a precedent for future energy and development projects across the country.
Environmental advocates urged the government to prioritise clean and renewable energy sources over coal and other fossil fuels.
“Kenya has sent a clear message that outdated and polluting energy pathways have no place in our future,” said Farida Aliwa, Executive Director of Natural Justice.
The Lamu coal project, initially approved in 2016 at an estimated cost of over Sh200 billion, has faced persistent resistance from communities concerned about health risks, livelihood disruption, and damage to Lamu’s fragile ecosystem.
Representatives of Amu Power Company Limited could not immediately be reached for comment as their lawyers were not physically present in court.
By Shani Rhai and Emmanuel Masha
Lamu Power Project
| Part of the Global Coal Plant Tracker, a Global Energy Monitor project. |
| Download full dataset |
| Report an error |
| Related coal trackers: |
| Global Coal Mine TrackerGlobal Coal Terminals TrackerGlobal Coal Project Finance Tracker |
Lamu Power Project is a cancelled power station in Manda Bay, Lamu County, Coast, Kenya.
Contents
- 1 Location
- 2 Project Details
- 3 Ownership Tree
- 4 Background
- 4.1 Government expression of interest
- 4.2 Amu Power & other plant details
- 4.3 Delays begin: Disputes & requests
- 4.4 Permitting process
- 4.5 Energy Regulatory Commission
- 4.6 GE enters the picture
- 4.7 National Environmental Tribunal
- 4.8 GE exits the picture
- 4.9 PPA: Fresh regulatory headwinds
- 4.10 Court case continued, appeal dismissed
- 5 Ownership
- 6 Development
- 7 Financing
- 8 Land rights
- 9 Opposition
- 10 Articles and Resources
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Lamu Power Project | Manda Bay, Lamu County, Coast, Kenya | -2.291111, 40.855556 (exact) |
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3: -2.291111, 40.855556
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Cancelled | coal: unknown | 350 | ultra-supercritical |
| Unit 2 | Cancelled | coal: unknown | 350 | ultra-supercritical |
| Unit 3 | Cancelled | coal: unknown | 350 | ultra-supercritical |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Amu Power Co [100%] | Centum Investment Group; Sichuan No 3 Power Construction Co; State Grid Corporation of China |
| Unit 2 | Amu Power Co [100%] | Centum Investment Group; Sichuan No 3 Power Construction Co; State Grid Corporation of China |
| Unit 3 | Amu Power Co [100%] | Centum Investment Group; Sichuan No 3 Power Construction Co; State Grid Corporation of China |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): South Africa
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Background
Government expression of interest
In 2013, the Kenyan government released an “Expression of Interest” meant to target investors for the proposed Lamu Power Project. The plant would rely on imported coal from South Africa and Zimbabwe. The Kenyan government also stated that it was willing to move the project from Lamu County to Kitui County where large deposits of coal were recently discovered.[1]
Amu Power & other plant details
In September 2014, it was reported that the plant would be constructed in Lamu County by a company known as Amu Power, a consortium of Kenyan companies Centum Investment Group and Gulf Energy Ltd., as well as Chinese companies China Huadian, Sichuan Electric Power Design and Consulting Company, and Sichuan No 3 Power Construction Company.[2] According to Amu Power, the plant will be 1,050 MW, and include coal-handling facilities at the proposed Lamu Port, including a jetty and associated infrastructure.[3] The proposed power plant will initially produce power using coal sourced from South Africa and later on switch to local coal mined from Kitui County’s Mui Basin.[4]
Delays begin: Disputes & requests
Two of the losing bidders challenged the award in court. An arbitration tribunal, however, upheld the award in January 2015.[5][6] Construction was pushed to 2015 following the disputes,[4] and the planned commencement date of January 2016 will likely be pushed back.[7] Members of the Lamu County Assembly said they want 30 per cent of the profits gained from the coal power plant project to remain in the county to benefit the local population, rather than going to the national government.[8]
Permitting process
According to the Amu Power website (July 2015), the project was under Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), expected to be completed in March 2015, after which it would be uploaded for public comment.[9] In July 2015, it was reported that the Lamu county government had endorsed the Amu coal plant, as long as all ESIA concerns were addressed. County representatives said they expected compensation packages for people affected by the project, and said priority in jobs accruing from the venture should be given to Lamu people.[10]
Construction of the plant was expected to start on September 30, 2015, and take 21 months to produce electricity.[11] However, on September 14, 2015, it was reported that construction had been delayed as Amu Power Company needed the Kenya National Land Commission (NLC) to finish a resettlement plan for the site before the company could submit an environmental impact report, which needs to be approved before construction can begin.[12]
The environment project report was submitted in September 2015, and states the plant would use supercritical technology.[13]
In March 2016, it was reported the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for the project was still underway.[14] In May 2016, Kenya’s National Land Commission (NLC) said it was acquiring 387.363 hectares to build the US$2 billion plant.[15] Amu Power has signed a power purchase agreement with Kenya Power to sell electricity generated at the plant at a cost of US7.52c/kWh.[16]
In August 2016, the Lamu County Assembly rejected an environmental and social impact assessment report by investors on the plant. The assembly wants the project owners to come up with a resettlement plan for residents who will lose their land to the project. Over 975 acres had been set aside for the project, with 600 land owners expected to be affected.[17]
However, it was reported on September 7, 2016, the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) issued a license to Amu Power allowing the company to start building the coal power plant.[18]
Energy Regulatory Commission
An objection to the plant’s approval by the group Lamu Natural Justice was heard by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in December 2016. In February 2017 the ERC over-rode the objection and approved the construction of the plant.[19] According to the NGO Save Lamu, the ERC decision did not mean a license to build the project had been granted; rather, ERC was still deliberating and a decision had yet to be made on the granting of the electricity generation license.[20]
In June 2018, it was reported that the Kenya Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) instructed developers of the proposed 1,050 MW coal plant to scale it down, reportedly to avoid excess electricity that would force consumers to pay for idle plants. The energy regulator directed cuts in the phased capacity from three phases of 350 megawatts to three phases of 150-200 MW.[21] However, one day later, the Kenya ERC issued a press release on its Twitter account saying there had been no change in the proposed capacity.[22]
In July 2017, Save Lamu petitioned the Environment & Land Court of Kenya to determine whether or not the Energy Regulatory Commission has granted an Electricity Generation Licence to Amu Power to build the proposed 1,050 MW coal plant and to make full disclosure of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) into which it entered.[23]
GE enters the picture
In May 2018, it was reported that General Electric (GE) was set to acquire a stake in Amu Power in exchange for supplying ultra-supercritical units and pollution controls for the Lamu project.[24]
In August 2018, 56 institutional and individual investors with US$713 billion (Sh71.3 trillion) in assets under management asked US firm General Electric to withdraw an earlier decision to invest in the plant. GE was to purchase a Sh40 billion stake in Amu Power as well as manage the plant and provide new steam turbines and boilers.[25]
National Environmental Tribunal
In October 2018, the High Court in Nairobi reinstated all automatic stay orders issued for projects challenged at the National Environmental Tribunal (NET). The ruling effectively restored stop orders issued, including the Lamu plant. The case was filed by activist Okiya Omtatah and Katiba Institute.[25]
A decision on the challenge to the ESIA of the plant was expected in June 2019.[26]
On June 26, 2019, the National Environment Tribunal (NET) cancelled the license issued by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) approving the environmental impact assessment for the proposed plant. The court ruled that NEMA had breached its own procedures, did not properly examine the proposed engineering systems, and failed to take account of Kenya’s Climate Change Act. The court also found there was no proper process of public participation on the project to the extent of being “contemptuous of the people of Lamu.” The NET stated that “there was a casual approach by NEMA” and that NEMA “failed to carry out their mandate as required by law.” Amu Power has 30 days in which it can file an appeal against the decision; if Amu Power decides not to appeal the decision, it will be required to undertake a fresh environmental assessment.[27][28]
In September 2019, Amu Power appealed the ruling that revoked the project’s license.[29]
GE exits the picture
In September 2020, Business Daily Africa reported that, in a further setback for the project, General Electric was expected to exit its agreement with Amu Power to design, construct and maintain the power plant as a result of the company’s new plan to end its involvement in the new-build coal power market as it shifts to renewable energy.[30]
PPA: Fresh regulatory headwinds
In November 2021, the fate of the plant continued to hang in the balance after recommendations in a report presented to President Uhuru Kenyatta said its power purchase agreement (PPAs) with Kenya Power had lapsed.[31] With no apparent update on the project’s status as of May 2022, the project was considered shelved. As of December 2022, the project was presumed to be cancelled.
Court case continued, appeal dismissed
In October 2024, a social media post by deCOALonize Kenya said that Amu Power had filed written arguments supporting their 2019 appeal in April and October 2024, and the Environment and Land Court would hold a hearing on October 17, 2024. A press release from deCOALonize further stated that the Court’s directions following the hearing would determine the next steps in the appeal process. Community members and advocates criticized Amu Power’s attempt to revive the appeal after five years of apparent inaction.
On March 3, 2025, the Environment and Land Court held a hearing on Amu Power’s appeal.[32] Respondents from the community-based organization Save Lamu presented oral highlights of their opposition to the power station project, arguing that the proposed coal plant would threaten the local community’s constitutional rights to a clean and healthy environment. Amu Power was not in court to highlight their written submissions. The Court planned to deliver its judgement on the appeal on May 29, 2025.[33]
According to reporting from June 2025, the court ruling on Amu Power’s appeal had been delayed and was now expected on September 3, 2025.[34]Activists in Lamu protested the delay, claiming that it was “a ploy by the government to actualize the project.”[35]
In September 2025, a social media post by Save Lamu indicated that the court ruling had been postponed until October 16, 2025.
On October 16, 2025, the Environment and Land Court upheld the 2019 decision by the National Environment Tribunal to revoke the Lamu Power Project’s EIA approval. The Court reportedly dismissed Amu Power’s appeal, and found that the “public participation process was inadequate and failed to meaningfully include the voices of affected communities.”[36][37][38]
Ownership
Amu Power Company is a consortium of Gulf Energy, Centum Investment Group, China Huadian, Sichuan No 3 Power Construction Company and Sichuan Electric Power Design and Consulting Company. The special purpose vehicle was expected to develop, own, and operate the station for 25 years as part of the Lamu Port and Lamu-Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor, which would include the proposed Lamu Port at Manda Bay, connecting railroads, oil pipelines, and a refinery.[39]
Development
In July 2016, it was reported that Amu had contracted Chinese firm, Power Construction Corporation (PowerChina), to build the plant. PowerChina said it planned to hire 1,400 Chinese workers, constituting 40% of the plant’s development workforce.[40]
Financing
- Source of financing: Centum and Gulf Energy (US$500 million)[41]
In February 2015, Amu Power received US$1.2 billion (Sh1,013.2 billion) financing from the Industrial Commercial Bank of China for the project, and was negotiating with local banks for a US$300 million loan. The project is valued at US$2 billion and will be financed through debt (US$1.5 billion) and shareholder equity ($500 million).[11]
In July 2016, Standard Bank of South Africa and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) agreed to jointly fund the US$300 million that was needed to close the deal. ICBC has a 20% stake in Standard Bank.[42] However on October 16 2017 Standard Bank said it will not fund the proposed coal-power plant in Lamu.[23]
In August 2017, it was reported that the African Development Bank (AfDB) was considering funding amounting to US$100 million as well as guarantees of a similar amount for the construction of the power plant.[23] However, in November 2019, AfDB said it will not fund the plant and “has no plans to finance new coal plants in the future”.[43]
In November 2020, ICBC also decided to withdraw its financing from the project.[44][45]
In December 2022, Centum Investments officially wrote off its US$16.39 million investment in the project. The carrying value of the investment had dropped to zero in the 2019/2020 financial year.[46]
Land rights
As of October 2022, nearly a thousand acres of land set aside for the project had not been reallocated. Over 600 farmers were affected by the project, and they were advocating for the land to be returned to local ownership. A chairman from the Kwasasi Farmers Association claimed that the farmers had not been compensated for their land, and project officials were unresponsive regarding the status of the site.[47]
Opposition
– November 29, 2015: Lamu County Rep. Shakila Abdalla (right), flanked by the County’s Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation chair Hindu Salim (2nd right), at a protest against the Lamu plant. (PHOTO: MAARUFU MOHAMED/ STANDARD)
The power station has been met with fierce opposition from climate justice organizers, youth, farmers, women, and others for years.[48]
For example, in 2015, local residents started a petition calling on Lamu Governor Issa Timamy to stop the coal project. According to the Sierra Club, the proposed Lamu plant was not planning to employ the best available technology to limit pollution, and it would begin operation without Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) to reduce nitrogen oxides. The proposal was also home to the World Heritage listed Lamu Old Town.[49]
A 2015 report on the area from Unesco’s World Heritage Committee stated that “[t]here can be no doubt that a project of this scale and scope, in an area as remote and protected as Lamu, cannot help but have profound negative impacts on the heritage.” Both Save Lamu and another group that were campaigning on the issue, Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri), say they would take their concerns to court if the project was permitted.[14]
In 2016, the group Save Lamu presented the governor of Lamu county, Issa Timamy, with a signed petition to stop the project. Both Save Lamu and Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) feared the National Environmental Management Authority might not be fair with the project ESIA. “We sent our comments in November last year and to date we are yet to get a reply,” said Khadija Shekuwe, the research officer at Save Lamu.[14]
Last but not least, in May 2017, more than 10 local civil society groups held a peaceful protest against the project, marching silently around Lamu Old Town with placards and posters.[50]
In February 2025, ahead of the continuing court case involving Amu Power’s 2019 appeal, activists and residents of Lamu held a protest against the proposed coal plant and urged the Environment and Land Court to throw out the case. Protestors reportedly described the project as “dangerous and unnecessary.”[32]