Residents of Kianjuku in Gatundu North subcounty have cried foul over the construction of the multibillion-shilling Kariminu II dam.
The residents, who held demonstrations at the water treatment plant, said the Chinese contractors who have been constructing the dam have channelled raw sewage from their homes to the Kangunu River, thus polluting their main source of water for domestic use and other purposes.
The residents, led by Francis Muturi, said that despite raising the concern with the contractor, Athi Water Development Authority, no solution was forthcoming.
They said the pollution of the river, their only source of water left after the merging of the main Karimenu River for the construction of the Sh24 billion mega dam, has led to acute water shortage in the village.
They fear that allowing the dam to be constructed in the area is a mistake, as they would no longer be able to enjoy fresh river water.
Grace Muthoni, another resident, expressed fear that a possible disease outbreak from the sewage if no action is taken.
"Who are these Chinese contractors who seem untouchable polluting our only main source of river in full disregard of National Environmental Management Authority and other government agencies regulations?" she said.
"As residents, we fear the pollution will have adverse effects on our health in the coming days because we have been consuming the water unknowingly. It has also affected our crops."
They said the original plan before they surrendered their pieces of land for the construction of the dam was to give them priority in supplying water among other community social responsibility projects.
She also said their agreement to have residents get more than 70 per cent of manual jobs was not honoured.
Gatundu North deputy county commissioner Julius Kavita who addressed the demonstrators ordered for the cleaning of the river by the company.
He said he would ask Nema to visit and assess the situation, promising that stern action would be taken to those found culpable.
The DCC, however, asked the residents to be calm as the government was now aware of their plight.
Efforts to get a comment from the company proved futile as journalists were denied entry from entering their offices at the dam site and. Neither did senior company officials reply to calls and text messages.
The dam, a major flagship project for the Jubilee administration, is set to ease water challenges in Juja, Ruiru, Thika and Nairobi.
