Menyenya Dam, which serves several institutions in the Nyansiongo shopping centre in Nyamira County, has been grabbed and subdivided into five plots.
Nyamira County Executive Committee Member for Water and Environment John Matiang’i made the revelations on Tuesday.
“This dam serves Nyansiongo residents, Menyenya High School, and Nyansiongo Tea Factory among other institutions, has been grabbed by unscrupulous people who have introduced hyacinth weed in the dam,” said Matiang’i.
Matiang’i noted that the grabbers introduced the noxious hyacinth weed to choke the dam’s waterways.
He said the people who grabbed the dam colluded with corrupt Ministry of Lands officials to get title deeds.
Matiang’i spoke at Gesibei DOK Primary School in Borabu Constituency during the launch of a borehole which was donated by the Andrew Wemyss Trust at the request of area MP Patrick Osero.
The water from the dam will be used by the school and the neighbouring community.
Grace Nyachae from the trust was the chief guest. Nyansiongo Parish Priest Christopher Mandere and Borabu NG-CDF Chairman Dennis Rosana attended the function.
Nyachae said through the trust, they have already done seven boreholes in the area and equipped computer labs in several schools.
He added: “As a county, we shall not allow the grabbing to take place. I want to appeal to the Ministry of Lands to revoke the title deeds.”
Further, Matiang’i decried the encroachment on other dams and water catchment areas in the country.
“Those who have encroached on wetlands should move out or risk eviction,” noted Matiang’i.
Matiang’i also revealed that the country is in the final stages of divorcing from the Gusii Water and Sanitation Company run by Kisii and Nyamira counties.
"Plans are at an advanced stage to have Nyamira and Sanitation Company (Nyawasco) and Nyamira Rural Water and Sanitation Company (Nyaruwasco). We have had issues in the management of Gwasco; that’s why we decided to register our company,” said Matiang’i.
