Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has opposed construction of a Ksh425 billion dam in Tharaka Nithi County.
While speaking in in Itunguni, Tseikuru sub-county on November 13, Musyoka gave out condition that must be met for the construction of High Grand Falls Dam to continue.
He registered his displeasure that there was no proper communication on how locals who will be displaced during the construction should be compensated.
“People must be given adequate monetary compensation so that they can choose where to resettle and not be forced into a settlement scheme,” Kalonzo demanded.
The dam is set to be the biggest infrastructural project in Kenya since construction of Standard Gauge Railway and will see residents from Kitui and Tharaka Counties displaced.
The former Vice President noted that there are plans to relocate residents to Meru National Park something he vowed to resist.
“People should be compensated and decide where to relocate instead of being forced to become squatters in game reserves,” Kalonzo added.
Taking people to game reserves is stripping them of their dignity and even if the dam is important that is unacceptable, according to the Wiper party leader.
The mega dam is part of six projects worth Ksh500 billion that Kenyan government and the UK signed a pact to fast track them on the sidelines of the climate conference COP27 in Egypt.
Other mega projects that will be funded by UK include a new rail central station in Nairobi, geothermal and solar energy plants in Malindi and Menengai and agriculture hub in Kisumu.
Upon completion, the dam will generate 1,000MW of hydroelectric energy capacity and irrigation for 400,000 hectares of farmland.
“The UK and Kenya go far when we go together. By fast-tracking finance into these clean, green projects with honest, reliable investment the UK is supporting Kenya to advance and maintain its continent-leading climate credentials – with mutual benefits for both our countries,” British High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriott, wrote after signing of the pact.
