Herders oppose Sh10b dam on Ewaso Ng’iro River

By ALI ABDI

Samburu County: Pastoralists from Isiolo, Samburu and Laikipia counties trekked to Archers Post to raise an objection to the Government’s plan to construct a mega dam on the Ewaso Ng’iro River.

The pastoralists spent days walking in a campaign dubbed ‘Walk and Sing for Ewaso Ng’iro River’.

The caravan from Isiolo — which included a woman and her two children — trekked for three days from Merti to the venue, while those from Laikipia’s Lekiji area took two days and those from Samburu, one day.

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Under the umbrella of Ewaso Ng’iro River Users Empowerment Platform, the pastoralists stated that they are opposed to the construction of the Sh10 billion twin dam at Crocodile Jaw and Ngarendare areas by the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation.

“Ewaso Ng’iro is our lifeline and without it, the pastoralists living downstream will perish. We want to send a message to the national government that we are opposed to this project which has no benefit for us,’’ said Salad Tutana of the Merti Integrated Development Programme.