Paper short abstract:

Social justice concerns are often overlooked in the drive for renewable energy development. Using a spatial justice lens, the study will reveal how land acquisition for the Kipeto wind energy project impacts the wellbeing of communities in rural Kenya.

Paper long abstract:

In many developing countries, social justice concerns are often overlooked in the drive for renewable energy development. This paper will consider aspects of spatial justice in the process of land acquisition for large-scale wind energy project in Kenya. It will explore the case of the Kipeto wind farm in Kenya. Through interviews, this study will compare what official rhetoric suggests about the wind farm with what actually transpires on the ground in terms of community employment, access to electricity, and local socio-economic development in general. Using a spatial justice lens, the study will reveal whether or not the wind farm has practically reduced or increased the precariousness of vulnerable peoples, whose lands have been acquired for energy development. Based on the findings, it will suggest land-related policies that are rooted on local realities, fosters local socio-economic development, and seeks to advance Africa’s land-energy futures as the renewable energy frontier advances across rural Kenya. Locally grounded land-related policies are critical for determining Africa’s energy futures.