Flood control, drainage works measures put in place as Karimenu II dam fills to capacity

Five years after the construction of the Karimenu II dam began, the waterbody has started spilling following the heavy rains that continue to pound in Gatundu North constituency and Kiambu County at large.

The 59-meter-high dam across Karimenu River is currently holding 26.5 billion litres of water with the excess of it flowing downstream areas using a self-regulating spillway built near the dam.

Adequate control

According to Engineer Joseph Kamau, the acting CEO in charge of Athi Water Works Development Agency, adequate flood control and drainage works measures have been put in place to mitigate against flooding and overflow of water downstream, water that is channelled into the Karimenu River via the spillway.

The filling of the dam, he said, speaks to the structural safety and strength of the water resource that is projected to benefit more than 1.1 million residents of Gatundu, Ruiru, Juja, and parts of Nairobi with a clean water supply.

Speaking at the dam when he, alongside the local community witnessed the first-ever spilling of the dam, Kamau assured those living around the waterbody of their safety and insisted that adequate measures have been put in place to prevent flooding as a result of the dam’s overflow.

The acting CEO at the same time revealed that the government has taken all necessary precautions to avoid any faulty eventuality saying that as it is, locals should go about their businesses without fear as the dam is structurally sound.

He at the same time revealed that the government has begun the process of compensating the community around the dam’s buffer zone to facilitate their relocation following the filling of the dam.

His statement came at a time when affected locals continue to plead with the government to compensate them before they relocate.

Water from the huge dam has begun to gobble up their homes, having already submerged their plantations including maize, bananas, Napier grass among other crops.

But Kamau assured the locals that the compensation process will be completed before February next year and urged the affected residents to cooperate with the government for fast-tracking of the process.

“We have started the process of compensating those within the buffer zone and we hope to complete this process by February next year. We are also looking for money to put up a bridge that will ease the movement of people from Gituamba, Gathanji and Kiriko villages,” said Kamau.

Njeru’s statement

Kamau’s statement was echoed by Cabinet Secretary in charge of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Zachary Njeru who in a statement to newsrooms revealed that relevant safety measures had been put in place, guaranteeing locals their safety.

Meanwhile, members of the public who live downstream have been warned to approach river riparian areas with caution.

The CS stated that the design of the dam took into consideration natural occurrences such as flooding in mind to prevent the dam from overflowing from unexpected heavy rainfall like the current El Nino rains.

“The Ministry through the management Agency, Athi Water Works Development Agency, has put in place adequate flood control and drainage works to mitigate against flooding and overflow of water to downstream areas using a self-regulating spillway that was built to safely evacuate excess water during events like the one that is currently taking place,” he said in a statement.

He however stated that the Emergency Response Plan has been implemented emphasizing the immense need for emergency responses such as early warning signs and notification procedures to all responsible agencies such as the National Disaster Management Authority, County Officials, Residents, and Emergency Response Teams.