Residents of Damaja and Matagala villages in Bura Constituency, Tana River County, have opposed plans by the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) to allow investors to farm within the Bura Irrigation Scheme.

They say the move threatens their ancestral land and way of life.

On Monday, September 29, 2025, the locals gathered to raise their concerns, accusing NIA of sidelining them in decision-making. They claimed the authority had ignored repeated calls to explain the boundaries of the land set aside for investors.

Bura MP Yakub Adow, who joined the residents in rejecting the plan, accused NIA of failing to provide documentation on the land.

“Investor kuanzia leo, venye watu wangu wamekataa, ndio mimi kama mbunge yao pia nimekataa kabisa,” Yakub Adow said.

“Na NIA tumeuliza maswali na wanatuzungusha kila wakati. Swali tunawauliza, ‘ardhi yenu ngapi? Documentation iko wapi?’ Kuanzia ile mkutano tumeingia ya mwezi wa tano mpaka wa leo hakuna mpaka wa leo documentation ambayo tumepewa.“

He added that instead of supporting development, NIA had abandoned its core duties.

“NIA kazi yao kitambo ilikuwa barabara ndio walikuwa wanatusaidia barabara yao hii. Saa hii imefungana. Scheme imeshikana. Gari haiwezi kupita. Vijana wanagongana na boda boda. Hiyo ndio ile kazi kitambo tulikuwa tunajua wanasifiwa nayo. Lakini saa hizi kazi yenyewe hiyo wameachana nayo, badala ya kusaidia watu wetu, imekuwa ni dhiki na tashwishi na kusumbua watu wetu.“

Residents warned that the entry of investors would only worsen their struggles. They accused the authority of introducing projects without involving the community.

Mzee Galdesa, a local elder, cautioned NIA to reconsider its approach.

“Waswahili walisema mtaka yote ukosa yote. Nataka kuambia ofisi ya NIA. Kabla hatujakaa kuwaondoa Bura, mtosheke na ile mko nayo.“

Unresolved struggles

This opposition comes at a time when the Bura Irrigation Scheme has faced years of challenges. In April 2024, farmers urged the state to waive debts they had incurred through farming loans. Many said they had been left bankrupt after poor harvests caused by bad seeds and harsh weather.

In February 2025, President William Ruto commissioned the Bura Gravity Canal Lot 2. The project was expected to expand the irrigation scheme from 6,000 acres to 25,000 acres, with a long-term target of more acres once the Grand Falls Dam is completed. The government said the project would reduce irrigation costs and open opportunities for public-private partnerships in large-scale farming.

However, residents fear that such partnerships may lead to displacement if their voices are ignored. They argue that the government should first address their pressing needs, such as roads, water, and debt relief, before inviting outside investors.