Eastern Kenya leaders demand compensation over dam project

MERU: Construction of the High Grand Falls dam - one of the Seven Forks hydro-electric power projects - at Kibuuka in Tharaka constituency is facing opposition from both local leaders and residents who want compensation of those who stand to be relocated.

Locals also fear they would be relocated to Kitui County and vowed to oppose the construction if at all they would be relocated to the nearby county. They asked the national government to look for alternative places within Tharaka Nithi County to relocate them, saying relocating them to Kitui would cause a crisis.

"We are not opposed to construction of the dam but we don't want to be taken to another county. Our county is big enough for all of us. We thank the national government for constructing the dam that will help us in agriculture," Kimathi Mutiiria, a resident of Gituma location, said.

The dam, set to be constructed along River Tana, will see more than 200 hectares in Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Kitui counties put under irrigation. Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki said the dam will generate 1,000mw of power.

"We want to irrigate all dry areas of Tharaka, Igambang'ombe, Mbeere and Mwingi. We are trying to educate locals on the benefits and hazards that could result from the dam," Kindiki told The Standard on phone.

He added: "The dam is currently disputed but together with other national government leaders we will ensure disputes are resolved."

The newly appointed Tana Water Services Board member Francis Kiambi said the National Environment Management Authority ought to carry out an environmental impact assessment to ensure residents living around the dam are safe. He requested Government to compensate locals who would be displaced.

Residents complained that the Government is paying them as little as Sh8,000 per acre, which they say cannot sustain them.

Mr Kiambi recommended that 70 per cent of the total income from the dam should go to the national government while 20 per cent is allocated to the county government as the remaining 10 per cent goes to the residents.

The project, which is part of the Sh1.5 trillion Lamu Port and Lamu-South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport Corridor, was suspended in 2013 due to corruption allegations.

Donors had estimated the public-private-partnership funded project would cost $1 million (Sh102,004,500) but the people handling the project were accused of inflating the amount to $1.7 million (Sh173,407,650).