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Residents disrupt stakeholders’ meeting to discuss construction of sh. 20B dam project

One of the conveners of the Ndarugu 1 Dam  Water Supply Project stakeholders' meeting at Komo Primary School dashes into the company's vehicle after residents cut shot the meeting accusing them of not fully involving them in the project.
A meeting convened to discuss the construction of a sh. 20 billion water project in Kiambu and Machakos counties was disrupted in Komo sub-location Thika East after leaders and residents protested the manner in which the matter was being handled in secrecy without involving key stakeholders who will affected by the project.

A team of consultants sent to collect views on impact assessment and deliberate on the project was forced to cut short their session at Komo Primary School after the irate residents led by the office of the area MP Eng. Patrick Wainaina said they wouldn’t have any of this until all facts regarding the said Ndarugu 1 Dam  Water Supply Project were laid bare.

“How do they hold a meeting to discuss a project of this magnitude without even the knowledge of local leaders and key stakeholders? How do they expect to accommodate the interests of those affected if the people themselves do not even know about the project? What are you hiding from the people? This unacceptable and the office of the Thika MP will not allow a meeting that is shroud with too much secrecy!” exclaimed John Mwangi Njuguna who is the MP’s Personal Assistant.

The residents claimed that matters related to land ownership in the area were complex and they would not allow the project to kick off until all their concerns had been addressed.

“Some of us here are still chasing for our title deeds thus we are not guaranteed of compensation in case we are displaced to pave way for the construction of the dam,” said one of the residents.

According to documents seen by 3T, Ndarugu 1 Dam  Water Supply Project aims to serve over 1.5 million people in Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado counties with clean drinking water.

The project components will entail a 35m high dam with a capacity of 225 million m³. The treatment plant will have the capacity to supply 55,000 of clean  water daily.

The project is being undertaken by TANATHI Water Works Development Agency.

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