A solar power project linked to deported Turkish businessman Harun Aydin—once a close ally of President William Ruto—is raising eyebrows over its unusually low budget, massive land allocation, and questionable regulatory approvals.
Aydin’s firm, Unit 2HA Investment Energy Africa, has been cleared to build a 50-megawatt solar farm on a staggering 3,000 acres in Rumuruti, Laikipia County.
Yet the company has declared a project cost of just KSh155.5 million—a fraction of what experts say such a project should require.
Industry standards place the cost of a 50MW solar farm at well over KSh6 billion, making the figure submitted by Aydin’s firm appear absurdly low.
What’s more, the land size is raising alarm. Comparable solar projects across Kenya typically require no more than 600 acres.
A separate 40MW solar project in the same area was planned on just 300 acres at a cost of KSh6.7 billion.
Regulatory bodies are not on the same page. The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has given environmental clearance, yet the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) confirms that Aydin’s company has not even applied for a generation license—a critical requirement for any power-producing entity in Kenya.
Harun Aydin was deported from Kenya in 2021 amid allegations of money laundering and terror financing, though no charges were formally filed.
Despite his controversial exit, he has re-emerged with reported involvement in state-driven projects, including affordable housing and now energy.
The solar deal has reignited fears of state capture, regulatory shortcuts, and the exploitation of Kenya’s green energy push by politically connected individuals.
As scrutiny intensifies, regulators and oversight institutions are under pressure to explain how a deported foreigner resurfaced with a multi-billion shilling project—backed by declarations that don’t add up.
Kenya’s renewable energy ambitions may be noble—but if left unchecked, they risk becoming a magnet for opaque deals dressed as progress.