NAIROBI, Kenya, May 6 – The government has paid Sh2.23 billion in compensation to landowners affected by major electricity transmission projects, even as Sh182 million remains pending across three key lines, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has told Parliament.
Submissions to the National Assembly’s Energy Committee indicate that the Kenya–Tanzania and Isinya–Namanga transmission line accounts for the largest share of compensation disbursed.
The project has a total RAP estimate of Sh1.56 billion, out of which Sh1.45 billion has already been paid, leaving a balance of Sh112,699,559.47.
Payments for land stood at Sh1.18 billion with a balance of Sh112.56 million, while structures’ compensation reached Sh36.8 million, leaving Sh134,599.47 unpaid.
Compensation for crops and trees under the project has been fully settled at Sh227.81 million.
For the Sultan Hamud–Merrueshi–Loitoktok transmission line, the government has disbursed Sh209.4 million out of a total budget of Sh231.5 million, leaving pending claims amounting to Sh22.1 million.
Landowners received Sh151.59 million, with Sh5.35 million still outstanding, while compensation for structures stood at Sh24.54 million, leaving a marginal balance of Sh11,500.
Payments for crops reached Sh33.26 million, with Sh16.73 million yet to be settled.
Meanwhile, the Isinya–Konza transmission line has seen Sh569.22 million paid out of a total compensation budget of Sh616.36 million, leaving Sh47.13 million pending.
Compensation for land reached Sh552.07 million with Sh28.46 million outstanding, while compensation for structures has been fully settled at Sh6.5 million.
Payments for crops stood at Sh10.65 million, leaving a balance of Sh18.67 million.
“For the three transmission line projects, a total of 836 Project Affected Persons were identified, with compensation largely progressed but not fully concluded,” Wandayi said.
“As of March 13, 2026, 163 PAPs remained unpaid due to budget constraints, documentation gaps and other administrative challenges.”
According to the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, the outstanding claims are largely linked to budget constraints, missing documentation, absentee landowners and cases where affected persons have not returned compensation offer letters or rejected the offers.
The government says it is engaging the National Treasury to secure additional resources while also urging affected landowners to submit the required documentation to fast-track the settlement process.