Tension is simmering in Ol Rongai, Nakuru County, as over 163,000 residents from 16 villages including Ol Rongai, Marigo, and Rigogo have vehemently opposed a proposed relocation to pave way for geothermal drilling by the Geothermal Development Company (GDC).

The community, which heavily relies on agriculture and livestock for survival, has accused GDC of attempting to push them off their ancestral land without adequate consultation or compensation.

Speaking during a community engagement forum with local leaders, residents expressed frustration over what they termed as broken promises by the company.

“NEMA assured us they would engage the community before approving any exploration license. That never happened,” said Timothy Ng’etich, a long-time resident.

Echoing the sentiment, another villager, Kibet Komen, lamented, “They promised water, road repairs, healthcare facilities, and jobs for our youth back in 2009. To date, none of those pledges have been honored.”

The community, represented by High Court advocate Mark Ondaga, has vowed to seek legal redress should the government fail to intervene within the next two weeks.

“These are peaceful, informed citizens who are determined to defend their rights. We’ve already succeeded in nullifying one license due to lack of proper public participation,” said Ondaga.

The residents are demanding the immediate revocation of GDC’s exploration license, accusing the company of violating both environmental regulations and community rights.

They are calling on the government to act swiftly to safeguard their land and livelihoods, warning that they will not back down without a fight.