A total of 28 villages will be affected by the Tana Delta Irrigation Project in Tana River County, the National Assembly’s Public Petition Committee was told.
Members of the committee were told the project, initiated by Tana and Athi River Development Authority (TARDA) people in the 28 villages will be displaced by the programme.
The project seeks to enhance the quality of life through sustainable utilisation of the Lower Tana River Basin.
Appearing before the committee, Tana River County CEC for Lands Mwanajuma Hiribae stated that TARDA never engaged the various stakeholders on the ground when designing the project.
“A total of 28 villages were affected for being on the TARDA land,” she stated.
Also before the committee led by Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai were Cabinet Secretary for EAC and ASALs region, Peninah Malonza and TARDA Managing Director Liban Duba.
The project is estimated to cover eight locations in Garsen Constituency, namely Mwina, Salama, Galili, Kipao, Wachuoda, Konememsa, Handaraku and Didewarede.
Petitioners feel that the project, as currently designed will lead to great displacement of people in the eight locations and also interfere with the environmental ecosystems.
They further said part of the area covered by the project is the Tana River Delta, which is Kenya’s sixth Ramsar Site and the only Ramsar wetland outside the Rift Valley as declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
Residents want TARDA to review boundaries in order to ensure the project does not extend beyond the southern parts of Garsen-Lamu Road and should instead be extended eastwards towards the border of Boni Forest.
They also prayed that the National Assembly facilitates clear demarcation of boundaries of TARDA land from the general community land.
They further want MPs to compel TARDA to engage residents of Tana River in all aspects of project design and implementation.
The committee sought clarification on several key aspects. They inquired about TARDA's utilisation of only 4,000 hectares out of its total 25,000-hectare land holdings.
Members asked for details regarding how TARDA acquired the land, particularly in the context of it being partly trust land.
Additionally, the committee raised concerns over resettlement plans for individuals currently situated on TARDA land and sought evidence of tangible benefits of the project accruing to the affected population.
Duba said the project is projected to yield a substantial 900,000 tonnes of food yearly.
Duba also highlighted that the project has facilitated employment opportunities, food supply, and access to clean water for local communities.
Moreover, he assured that individuals currently residing on the land would not face eviction as directed by the President.
Mbai stressed the importance of implementing the Presidential directive.
He underlined the directive's key elements, including the preservation of Kenyan citizens' right to remain in their homes without the threat of eviction.