Lamu Coal Plant and the Kenya Constitution, Bill of Human Rights

Two Articles of the Constitution of Kenya directly state that every Kenyan has the right to a healthy environment including protecting the environment for future generations, the right to the highest available standards of health, and the right to safe water. A third Article guarantees sustainable exploitation, use, and management of the environment.

Yet in 2013, the government approved the construction of a 1,050-megawatt coal plant in Lamu County that would violate these rights. This would be the first coal-fired generation plant in Kenya, and the first in all of East Africa. There has been no convincing argument on the need for the plant given the consensus on projected electricity demand and that Kenya has more than enough current capacity and potential for renewable generation to meet
and exceed projected demand through 2030. Download the fact sheet here.

Lamu Coal Plant and the CoK