Residents of Kapkuis and Kamaura in Uasin Gishu County are growing increasingly worried about a number of developments taking place near their homes. These developments include a petrol station that is already operating, large greenhouses still being constructed, and a huge water storage facility that is currently being dug out.
What troubles them most is how close these projects are to where people live some just 50 meters away. Many believe this poses real dangers to their safety and the environment.
The affected communities say the projects are being carried out by the family of a high-ranking government official, which has made it hard for them to raise their voices. Whenever locals try to get answers or raise concerns, those responsible either avoid them or show no interest in engaging.
Among the individuals being linked to the projects is Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, the CEO of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). Residents claim that his family owns the land where the construction is happening.
Several complaints have been filed with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), particularly the Eldoret branch. In response to early concerns, NEMA reportedly issued a stop order.
But residents say this order was ignored, and construction continued as if nothing had happened. This has made many people feel powerless and frustrated, especially when they see rules being broken without consequence.
People in the area now believe that the developers are acting with a sense of impunity. Many wonder how such large-scale construction involving fuel and chemicals can continue without proper oversight. Their concerns have grown stronger due to what seems like silence or inaction from the local authorities meant to protect their rights and the environment.
This belief was reinforced when a voice recording began making rounds in the community. In the clip, a woman believed to be a close family member of Daniel Kiptoo is heard speaking with authority.
She claims that NEMA has no issue with the ongoing works and even goes as far as saying that the projects will go on regardless of what the community thinks. Her confident tone has led many to believe that powerful connections are shielding the developers from accountability.
Because the local NEMA office in Eldoret appears unable or unwilling to act, residents have decided to take their concerns to the national office in Nairobi. They want top officials at NEMA to step in, investigate the situation properly, and ensure that the law is followed.
They argue that what is happening is either the result of a broken system or one that is being influenced by external forces. The fact that construction continues despite a stop order makes them question whether some officials are looking the other way.Residents are now asking for a full environmental audit of all the ongoing activities.
They want an independent investigation into how the matter has been handled so far by the local agencies. They are also demanding that all construction work be stopped immediately until public participation is carried out. They believe that any decision on such developments should involve not just the landowners and developers, but also the people living nearby, civil society groups, and environmental experts.
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