appraisal drilling of geothermal wells in olkaria domes - Orkustofnun

Report 13 275 Ogolacosmopolitan. It is, therefore, very difficult to identify the area with one big community sharing thesame cultural or ethnic traditions as is common in many parts of Kenya. In this very unique complexare also very unique stakeholders, the wild animals, whose interests are championed by the KenyaWildlife Service and conservationists.The stakeholder composition of the area includes KenGen, flori/horticultural farms, Kenya WildlifeService, hotels and conservation centre, ranches (e.g. Kedong ranch), fisheries, Orpower, Maasaicommunity, local residents, associations e.g. Lake Naivasha Growers Group (LNGG), Lake NaivashaRiparian Association (LNRA), Lake Naivasha Tourism Group (LNTG), and government agencies likethe municipal council, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Agriculture andMinistry of Water.Most of the stakeholders in the region are very cohesive and belong to one or more association.KenGen is a member of the Lake Naivasha Riparian Association and works closely with the otherassociations. These associations have formed a good conduit for information sharing, thrusting outkey problems affecting the region and giving some financial contribution towards socialresponsibilities. A good example of this cohesion was witnessed during the repair of a small part ofthe Moi South Lake road, the formulation of the Lake Naivasha Management Plan, and establishmentof the code of conduct by the LNGG´s and associated environmental audits of their activities.KenGen and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) hold meetings to discuss the environmental issuesaccording to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two institutions. KenGen hasalso collaborated with the Maasai community by providing social amenities such as water, transport,schools, etc. KenGen and KWS and the Maasai community also hold regular meetings to discuss firesin the dry season, among other issues. The Maasai community has greatly benefited from theexistence of the geothermal project in the area.The challenge goes to those who do not belong to any association and do not give back to the regionafter harvest.3.2 Description of physical resources3.2.1 Land resourcesBefore the colonial government, the land was traditionally grazed by the Maasai who lived a pastoralway of life. The Maasai grazed from Kajiado and Narok to the northern and eastern parts of Kenya.For centuries, land was communally owned and still is in some cases and used for grazing. In 1905,the colonial government moved the Maasai to the reserves. The land including the land around LakeNaivasha was subdivided in big parcels and acquired by individuals. The land tenure system changedfrom traditional Maasai communal ownership to freehold private ownership with title deeds. As aresult of this, land has been sold from one person to the next with appropriate title deed. The landwithin the Naivasha township area is on leasehold. Though the area has been annexed by the council,the land in the study area is still freehold. The value of land varies with the location. The value ofland next to the lake is approximately USD 12,500 per acre while the land across the Moi South Lakeroad will cost nearly half or less of the amount per acre depending on the location and view. The landwhich has been subdivided and sold out for low income housing costs about USD 1,250 per acre.The land where some of the KenGen facilities are located is used for conservation; it was gazetted as anational park after the implementation of Olkaria I geothermal power plant. KenGen and KWS havesigned a MOU to govern the operations of the company in the parkThe immediate neighbours therefore are KWS, Kedong ranch, Ngati farm and Oserian. Kedong ranchwhere the Olkaria Domes will be located is currently owned by a group of individuals who bought theland from a settler. The ranch closely borders the park.