The Lamu Coal Plant project in Kenya has been stopped by a court decision

Our friends and allies in Kenya just won a tremendous victory  -- the National Environment Tribunal (NET) of Kenya has cancelled the licence previously granted to Amu Power, the developer of the controversial Lamu Coal Plant. 

After years of inspiring and creative campaigning from the climate movement, the Kenyan National Environment Tribunal (NET) has just cancelled that license, citing the lack of effective public participation and social and environmental risks among other reasons.

This is a huge victory for the climate movement, environmental rights, for the Lamu community and for our planet. Join us in the celebration: watch and share this 1-min video on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and help the news spread far and wide!

This outcome proves once again that people power is unstoppable -- and that when we mobilise and fight, we win. From emails, social media shares to the creative protests and letter-writing campaigns we helped organize, from small and localised meetings to huge rallies, we pushed and pushed and didn’t give up, even in the face of intractable targets.

This momentous ruling is a major step toward a fossil free Kenya. 

What the deCOALonize movement accomplished in Kenya is the kind of bold and visionary action that puts us on the offensive against the fossil fuel industry. We need more of this kind of action in Kenya and around the continent.  .

Today, we take a moment to celebrate. And tomorrow, we get back to work. We’ll keep the pressure on our elected officials at all levels, and fight for our climate and safety of our communities. City by city, province by province, country by country we won’t stop working to build people power for bold action that matches the scale needed to avoid catastrophic climate impacts.  Share the video on your social media to help spread the word about this milestone!

This unprecedented victory is proof that by collectively fighting for a more just and sustainable world, we’re able to defeat the devastating fossil fuel industry — and widen the horizon of the future we can create.

This victory is also a signal to every other governments, countries and multinational: Africa is not for sale. Together, we can start building a Fossil Free Africa.

Sign up to find out more about what’s happening across the continent and how you can take local action.

by Chris

PR: deCOALonize Campaign partners and Greenpeace Africa Demand a Stop to Coal Investments in Kenya.

Nairobi, 12 June 2019 – Communities from Lamu and Kitui together with Greenpeace Africa and members of the deCOALonize coalition have today handed over letters to the Ministry of Energy and the Chinese Embassy. The letters are calling on the Cabinet secretary, Hon. Charles Keter and Chinese corporations to stop investing in Lamu and Kitui coal projects and instead invest in renewable energy.

The anti-coal activists marched from Uhuru Park to Nyayo house where the Ministry of Energy is housed and then proceeded to the Chinese embassy to express their discontent over the planned Coal Power Plant in Lamu and coal mining in Kitui.

Coal burning is the number one source of air pollution worldwide. The true cost of coal is destruction at every step- damaging people’s health through air pollution, using up and polluting scarce water resources and contributing to the climate crisis. This coal project will also destroy mangrove forests and local livelihoods, in an ecologically rich area of Kenya - Lamu - which is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

“Our cultural heritage and livelihoods are threatened. The Lamu coal plant will ruin tourism and Lamu Old Town - destabilizing the county’s economy and the environment. Our people will face the most health risks from this plant. The government must prioritise the protection of local communities and the environment,” said Mohamed Mbwana From Save Lamu.

“There is no need to build centralized dirty sources of energy such as coal to answer to Kenya’s energy demands especially when the country is taking the lead in Africa with 85% renewable energy base. With access to wind, solar, geothermal and tidal energy sources, Kenya’s renewable energy potential is cost-efficient and causes no harm to the people and environment,” said deCOALonize Campaign Coordinator, Omar Elmawi.

Climate crisis remains one of the biggest challenges facing humankind. Throughout the world, countries including China - directly linked to the project - are divesting from coal. Studies have shown that the social, environmental and economic costs of running coal-fired power plants exceed the benefits.

“Climate crisis has crippling effects on developing economies; fossils fuels such as coal exacerbates these effects. Kenya cannot afford to ignore this anymore. It's time to quit plans for dirty, highly polluting coal and invest in renewable energy,” said Greenpeace Africa’s Senior Political Advisor, Frederick Njehu.

Kenya currently produces more energy than it uses. However, electricity access to urban, peri-urban and rural communities is still limited due to a centralized energy system. Investing in a robust decentralized grid system will allow for better access to electricity to industries and households. Investments in the energy sector should go towards expanding the grid network.

Kenya’s president has committed to 100% renewable energy by 2020. Greenpeace Africa and deCOALonize in solidarity with the local communities in Lamu and Kitui would like to hold President Uhuru Kenyatta accountable to this commitment and call on him to halt all investments towards coal in Kenya.

Notes to the Editor:
● Open letter to the Chinese government
● Letter to Ministry of Energy
Media Contact:
- Hellen Dena, Greenpeace Africa’s
- Communication Officer, hdena@greenpeace.org, +254 717 104144
- Omar Elmawi, deCOALonize Campaign, omar.elmawi@decoalonize.org, +254710343432

by Chris