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The recent discovery of coal reserves in Kenya, the political incentive to address problems in the electricity sector, and the growing involvement of China in Kenya has stimulated interest in establishing a domestic coal industry and coal power, which supporters claim would bring major development benefits. On the other hand, any such development will have health and environmental impacts, issues that have been repeatedly raised by the local community; as well as implications for Kenya's emissions and related climate targets, a concern for the international community working on climate change. Using the proposed Lamu coal power plant in Kenya, this research draws on political settlement theory and discourse network analysis to reveal the influence of structural features of the context, the location of power, the distribution of benefits and how actors employ discursive strategies to protect their interests. The analysis suggests that although there is broad civil society opposition to the plant, there is significant backing from the Presidency, big business interests and the necessary regulatory bodies. The arguments made by supporters, such as cheap, baseload electricity appear to contradict the recommendations for coal, of electricity planning processes in Kenya, which indicate the plant could lead to surplus electricity supply, thereby increasing the price of electricity. The controversies surrounding the ongoing National Environmental Tribunal have also illustrated some of the political motives at play. More broadly, the plant appears to be part of an infrastructure development vision championed by President Kenyatta and supported by a growing relationship with China, suggesting the future of coal may be determined by interests other than robust, least cost electricity planning.