A promise of renewable energy in Kenya's Laikipia County is currently overshadowed by a cloud of controversy. A Turkish-owned company, Unit 2HA Investment Energy Africa, linked to Harun Aydin — a businessman with a notably checkered past and ties to President William Ruto — is pushing forward with a 50-megawatt solar project under highly questionable circumstances. This ambitious venture, slated for construction on a sprawling 3,000-acre plot, has received environmental clearance, yet glaring red flags concerning its financial viability, land use, and regulatory compliance are rapidly emerging.
The most striking anomaly lies in the project's projected cost. Unit 2HA Investment Energy Africa estimates the total cost of the solar plant, dubbed the "Umoja Solar Plant," at a mere Sh155.47 million. This figure stands in stark contrast to industry standards, representing less than 3% of what similar-sized projects typically require in Kenya. For perspective, a 50MW solar facility usually costs around Sh6.4 billion, and other 40MW projects have budgets exceeding Sh6 billion. This glaring discrepancy immediately raises serious questions about the plan's credibility and financial transparency. Furthermore, the project's proposed land usage is equally perplexing; while most solar farms of this magnitude utilize between 300 to 600 acres, Aydin's firm plans to consume an astonishing 3,000 acres in Rumuruti, the same location where a similar 40MW project (budgeted at Sh6.7 billion on 300 acres) was previously cancelled due to concerns.
Adding layers of concern are the regulatory inconsistencies and the controversial background of Harun Aydin himself. Aydin, listed as both a director and shareholder of the firm, was famously deported from Kenya in 2021 on suspicion of terrorism financing and money laundering, an incident during which he was publicly defended by then-Deputy President William Ruto. Despite these serious allegations (which Interior CS Fred Matiang'i attributed to diplomatic ties preventing charges), Aydin has conspicuously resurfaced in several state-linked projects since President Ruto assumed office, including a significant affordable housing initiative. While the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has granted environmental approval for the solar project, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), the body responsible for licensing power generation plants, confirmed it has yet to receive a permit application from the Aydin-linked firm.
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Efforts to contact Aydin for clarification have gone unanswered, further deepening the shroud of opacity around Unit 2HA Investment Energy Africa, whose other shareholders are also foreign nationals. This ambitious "Umoja Solar Plant" project, despite its promise of renewable energy, demands immediate and thorough scrutiny. Its questionable financials, unusual land requirements, and the controversial background of its key figure underscore an urgent need for full transparency and adherence to robust regulatory frameworks, ensuring Kenya's clean energy ambitions are pursued with unquestionable integrity.
