Disputes halt dam projects in wake of water shortage

As drought continues to ravage most parts of the country leading to an acute water shortage, the fate of several multi-billion-shilling dam projects which would have alleviated the situation hangs in the balance.
The residents in areas where these dams are to be constructed have forced the projects into abeyance for years mainly over conflicts with the government for compensation for their land, which is to be appropriated for the projects. 

Work on two of the four dams the government is constructing in the South Rift at a cost of more than Sh80 billion has stalled as debate over one of the projects assumed a political dimension in the run-up to last year’s General Election.

The four dams are Itare in Nakuru county, Koru-Soin that cuts across Kericho, Nandi and Kisumu counties, Bosto in Bomet county and Londiani dam in Kipkelion East, Kericho County.

The Itare and Koru-Soin dam projects are also facing resistance from the locals.

READ: Demos rock Itare Dam works -

FLOODING
The Itare project, whose construction is under way, became a political tool in the run-up to the August 8, 2017 General Election after Nasa leader Raila Odinga joined a section of Kipsigis elders to oppose it, citing a negative environmental impact.

In July last year, at least 200 families in Kisumu and Kericho counties went to court, blocking their displacement from the Koru-Soin border where a dam is set to be constructed.

They said they were never consulted.

The dam, whose construction was planned in the early 1980s, is meant to control flooding in the lower Nyando area as well as generate hydro-electric power.

“Already, there are efforts from local chiefs, police and brokers to evict us without proper compensation plan.

"We are afraid since the government has in the past failed to compensate families displaced for similar projects, for example in the Seven Forks Dam in Eastern Kenya,” Mr Charles Anyumba, a resident of Koru, said.

DISPLACEMENT

However, Dr Julius Kones, the chairman of the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation – the implementing agency – said pertinent issues that surrounded the projects had been ironed out and that the implementation process was ongoing.

“There were specific concerns for some residents who feared being displaced or their environment being affected negatively by the projects. But we have since undertaken public education for residents to understand the importance of the project,” he said.

A fortnight ago, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich promised to fast-track the allocation of money for construction of the Sh20 billion Koru-Soin dam.

The National Environmental Management Authority and Kenya Forest Service have cleared the Bosto Dam for construction, removing the last hurdle in the implementation process.
The proposed project components are a 40 metre high dam, water treatment plant that can handle 56,000 cubic metres per day, 200 kilometre long transmission lines and storage reservoirs.

The three-year project will provide water to Bomet County and sections of Kericho County.

“The project will serve a population of 620,000 and covers two-thirds of Bomet County and parts of Kericho County,” Dr Kones said.

COMPENSATION
Dr Kones said the government released Sh7 billion for the Londiani Dam and that plans were at an advanced stage to compensate land owners who would have to surrender their pieces of land to pave way for the project.

He admitted that little had been done to educate residents about the upcoming projects, something he said has been rectified.

“So far, none of the projects has run behind schedule because we have no court injunction. We are seeking a truce with locals as projects continue,” he said.

Residents affected by the Sh62.3 billion Thwake dam project in Ukambani region are resisting a government notice to vacate their farms over unending controversy surrounding their land compensation.

The residents, who were supposed to have moved from the dam site by February last year, are yet to be fully paid for their land as the compensation process is now under investigation over alleged fraud.

READ: State and locals differ over Thwake dam

RESETTLEMENT
With the onset of the April rainy season beckoning and the project implementation behind schedule, the residents are torn between obeying a government quit notice or sticking to their farms.

At least 229 families living at the confluence of Thwake and Athi rivers in Kitui and Makueni counties have ignored the notice by the National Land Commission (NLC) to vacate their farms citing government’s failure to fully compensate them.

Initially, the resettlement of the affected families was budgeted to cost Sh2.4 billion with the government buying an acre for Sh180,000.

The compensation funds were provided in last year’s budget.

However, the compensation process stalled prompting the ministry to launch an internal audit after the NLC asked for a further Sh1.5 billion.

This escalated the land compensation budget to Sh3.9 billion.

INVESTIGATION
Sources at Maji House revealed that the ministry, which supervised the surveying and valuation of the project land, wants the commission to justify the demand for more funds and launched its own internal probe.

The residents are worried that the quit notice by NLC to pave way for the contracted Chinese firm Gezhouba Group may render them squatters.

Dr Daniel Kisangau, the secretary of Thwake land owners committee, says this is contrary to earlier assurances by the government that they will be compensated fully before being asked to move out to pave way for the project.

“There is a lot of confusion in this project. Most people have not been paid but they are expected to have moved out,” Dr Kisangau, who is the Director of South Eastern Kenya University’s Wote campus, said.

The lecturer says those given partial payments risk squandering all the money and should be allowed to continue tilling their farms to feed their families.

“People are apprehensive that the need to address the water deficiency in the region may render them squatters,” the lecturer said.

WATER SHORTAGE
Last year, the residents petitioned Parliament to intervene and save them from the alleged land compensation scam and ensure they are not forced out until their full payments are made.

Kitui Rural MP Boni Mwalika said it was unacceptable for the 519 affected families to be asked to vacate the project site and yet some of them have not been given even a coin.

“The water deficiency in the region should not render local residents squatters. We’ll not allow them to be pushed out,” the MP warned.

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu, who mooted the project during her tenure as Water Minister in the Kibaki administration, said the project should solve the myriad food and water challenges in the region.

The dam – a Vision 2030 flagship project – is planned for implementation in four main phases, including construction of a 77 meter high dam, hydro power generation component, 34,600 cubic meters of water supply and a final phase of irrigating 40,000 hectares in the two counties. 

It is designed to supply piped water for domestic use, serve the Konza Techno-City and adjacent towns, irrigate farms downstream in the two counties as well as generate 23 megawatts of hydro power.

POLITICAL AFFILIATION
However, local residents want the hydropower generation component, which will see installation of three turbine generator sets, deferred until the water supply and irrigation components are achieved.

“Our stand as a community remains that food and water are more basic than electric power. So after the dam is constructed, let us first irrigate the 40,000 hectares downstream before generating power for the national grid,” Dr Kisangau said.

The project is being financed jointly by the Kenya government and the African Development Bank with the government financing two-thirds of the cost and donors footing the remaining third.

In Kisii and Nyamira counties, residents continue to suffer water shortages like the rest of the country, but even then some locals have rejected the Sh5.8 billion Bonyunyu Dam project, which would go a long way in alleviating the water shortage.

The dam has split residents along political lines with those against it being accused by government officers of being used by the opposition.

The government insists that it will force through the project to beat the March deadline given by the donors.

AWARENESS
The dam is a Vision 2030 project funded by the government and Netherlands.

It is being implemented by the Lake Victoria Water Services Board.

The donor had given the government up to November last year but extended their offer to March after construction failed to kick off.

Former Kitutu Masaba MP and ODM national treasurer Timothy Bosire is being investigated by security officers over his possible involvement in inciting the locals to reject the project.

The vocal politician, who lost his bid for the Kitutu Masaba parliamentary seat to Shadrack Mose of Jubilee in the August 8 election, says locals have not been involved.

“Various stages of the implementation process were ignored. Locals feel implementers are not genuine enough and are forcing the project on them for reasons known best to them,” he said.

He said Lake Victoria Water Services Board was not forthcoming with information and that it should be very clear how Nyamira residents would directly benefit.

“We know the project is good, but what we are against is a forced project.

"Residents should be made to understand the benefits of the project. They should not be denied those benefits just because they seem ignorant,” he said.

VIOLENCE
The government says the dam will be constructed on four acres of public land and that only three families will be affected, but Mr Samuel Mogunde, the chairman of the group opposed to the project, disputed this saying over 3,000 people are likely to be affected.

“Where will these people go? Why are they not telling us how they will compensate over 1,500 acres of tea and trees? What about our homes?” he asked

One of the locals was last month gunned down after he allegedly turned violent on a team of surveyors doing mapping at the site.

Earlier, four houses of the locals deemed as supporting the project were set ablaze by youth who are opposing it.

Nyamira County Commissioner Isaiah Nakoru and Masaba North Deputy County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo said protests by residents will not scare the government.

“This project must go on as planned. We have conducted over 20 public participation forums with them but they will still deny that,” Mr Leparmorijo said.

Lake Victoria Water Services Board director Victor Omanwa said there would be no turning back as funds had already been released by the donors.