• The CS said the process of compensating and moving the residents of Iruri, Kiriko, Gathanji and Kanyoni villages to safer areas has started.
• He said the exercise is being conducted in a fair and transparent manner to the locals' satisfaction in order to avoid any standoffs.
Image: JOHN KAMAU
The government has set aside Sh150 million in the supplementary budget to compensate Gatundu North residents affected by Karimenu II Dam.
Water Cabinet Secretary Zachariah Njeru said 122 people, whose properties including land and homes are on the verge of being submerged by the already full mega dam, will be compensated and relocated.
He said the process of compensating and moving the residents of Iruri, Kiriko, Gathanji and Kanyoni villages to safer areas has been initiated by the government.
Njeru was speaking on Monday during an impromptu visit to assess the situation at the dam after spilling started on Saturday morning.
"We have established that the dam is now full to capacity and the excess water is spilling safely back to Karimenu River, therefore there's no cause for alarm," the CS noted.
"We however call on residents living downstream and especially farmers who cultivate along the river riparian to move and be extra cautious to avert a tragedy."
Njeru added, "There are 34 households that have been affected by the dam and the process of compensating and relocating them is underway. We are working together with them so that we can move them to safer areas before the compensation is done."
The CS, who was accompanied by Principal Secretary Julius Korir and Athi Water Service Board acting CEO Eng Joseph Kamau, divulged that valuation of the resident's properties is being fast tracked in a bid to speed up the process.
He said the exercise is being conducted in a fair and transparent manner to the locals' satisfaction in order to avoid any standoffs.
This is after some of the affected persons raised concerns that they are being kept in the dark in the valuation exercise.
Njeru at the same time reiterated that the government will connect residents living in villages around the dam to an all-time supply of water in their homes.
Residents had petitioned the government to supply them with sufficient water for domestic use before pumping it to other regions including Nairobi, Juja and Ruiru.
The CS also dispelled fears that other mega dams including Sasumua and Ndakaini are posing a threat to locals living downstream, saying they are in good condition and are being monitored.
He said the government is working closely with Gatundu North residents who have been affected by the proposed Sh13 billion Ndarugu II dam that has been marred by controversies.
Residents from Githobokoni, Mwimuto, Watathi, Gatei and Gathaite villages, where the dam is earmarked to be built, have been opposing construction of the dam vowing not to cede their ancestral land for the project.
They have already lodged a case against implementation of the project at the Lands and Environment Court in Thika.
But Njeru divulged that the government is in talks with the landowners and hinted that concensus will soon be arrived at and pave way for the project's commencement.
"We are aware that a few people are inciting the residents but we have already initiated talks with those who will be affected by the project and soon we will have progress," he said.
Meanwhile, the CS asserted that the Kenya Kwanza government is keen on constructing more mega dams to aid in water harvesting, especially in flood-prone areas and during rainy seasons.
He cited the proposed construction of the grand falls dam that will be a multi-puporse dam with a hydro power plant. It will also provide residents with domestic and irrigation water.