Gitson accuses NEMA of concealing data on Marsabit power projects

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 20 – Gitson Energy Limited has accused the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) of providing false and incomplete information regarding environmental approvals for power projects in Marsabit County.

The company, through its CEO James Gitau, claims NEMA misrepresented records by stating that only two energy projects have been captured under its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) framework in the region and are at various stages of implementation.

Gitson argues that several other major infrastructure projects, including the Kenya–Ethiopia and Loiyangalani–Marsabit transmission lines, are either completed or ongoing and should have undergone environmental approval processes. The firm says the authority failed to account for these projects in its disclosures.

The company further alleges that after seeking documentation on community land ownership for the projects, NEMA admitted that no such records had been provided, including for projects implemented by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO).

According to Gitson, the omissions amount to violations of the Constitution, the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA), and other applicable laws governing environmental oversight and public accountability.

The firm also faulted the regulator for failing to disclose accurate details on fees collected from EIA approvals in the county. It claims NEMA listed only a single payment of Sh500,000 despite the presence of multiple large-scale energy projects backed by international financiers.

Gitau disclosed the claims in a rejoinder submitted to the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), also known as the Office of the Ombudsman.

He has urged the commission to compel NEMA to release full and accurate information, warning that the alleged gaps could point to broader governance and accountability concerns in the approval and oversight of energy projects.