State allocates Sh150m to relocate families near dam
Property owners whose land surrounds the Sh24 billion Karimenu II dam’s buffer zone in Gatundu North Constituency, Kiambu County, will be paid Sh150 million to facilitate their relocation.
Water Cabinet Secretary Zachary Njeru told journalists that the government has set aside the money in the Supplementary Budget to move the affected residents. Njeru said 122 people from 34 households whose property has been submerged will also be compensated and relocated after the dam filled up following heavy rains.
At Iruri, Gathanji, Kanyoni and Buchana villages, water from the huge dam has been gobbling up their homes, having already submerged their plantations with maize, bananas, napier grass and other crops.
Speaking during an impromptu visit at the mega dam to assess the situation due to spilling which began Saturday last week, the CS noted that the process of compensating and moving the locals to safer areas has been initiated by the government.
“We have established that the dam is now full to capacity and the excess water is spilling safely back to Kariminu River. There is therefore no cause for alarm. To us as a government, the filling of this dam is a milestone as we never expected it to fill like it has that fast. Much as there have been negative aspects of the rain, we are happy to have achieved this milestone,” said the CS.
“We also want to assure the public that they are safe both upstream and downstream, the only thing we want to do upstream is to make sure that those who are around the dam are resettled. We are in total engagement with them and we are sure we will come to an agreement,” added CS Njeru. He at the same time called on residents living downstream and especially farmers who cultivate along the river riparian to move and be extra cautious to avert tragedy.
The CS, who was accompanied by Principal Secretary Julius Korir and Athi Water Service Board Acting CEO Eng Joseph Kamau, divulged that valuation of the resident’s properties is being fast-tracked in a bid to speed up the process.
He noted that the exercise is being conducted in a fair and transparent manner to the locals’ satisfaction in order to avoid any standoffs especially after some of the affected persons raised concerns that they are being kept in the dark in the valuation exercise.
Njeru at the same time reiterated that the government will connect locals living in villages around the multi-billion dam to an all-time flow of water in their homes.
Residents had petitioned the government to supply them with sufficient water for domestic use before pumping it to other regions including Nairobi, Juja and Ruiru.
The CS also dispelled fears that other mega dams including Sasumua and Ndakaini dams are posing a threat to locals living downstream saying that they are in good condition and are being monitored.
He at the same time noted that the government is working closely with Gatundu North residents who have been affected by the proposed Sh13 billion Ndarugu II dam that has been marred by controversies and sharp opposition.
A section of residents from Githobokoni, Mwimuto, Watathi, Gatei and Gathaite villages, where the dam is earmarked to be implemented, have been opposing construction of the dam vowing not to cede their ancestral land for the project.
They have already lodged a case against implementation of the project at the Lands and Environment Court in Thika.
But Njeru divulged that the government is in talks with the land owners and hinted that consensus will soon be arrived at and pave the way for the project’s commencement.