Residents disrupt stakeholders’ meeting to discuss construction of sh. 20B dam 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
m³ of
clean water daily.
The project is being undertaken by TANATHI Water Works
Development Agency.
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