Residents of Gatei, Kanjuku and Munuto villages in Gatundu North, Kiambu County on Saturday , November 19, turned away Chinese contractors who were spotted surveying the area ahead of the construction of a dam.
The feasibility studies conducted by the contractors did not amuse locals after it emerged that they were not involved through the constitutional public participation.
"The Chinese just walk into our land and set up beacons without consulting us first, when you complain to the chief, he always seems unaware of the happenings," a resident lamented. .
He added, "The government did not consider us when deciding to construct the dam, we want it stopped and taken elsewhere, otherwise where will we go if the dam is constructed?"
If constructed, the dam project will be the second multi-billion development project in the village where the Ksh24 billion Karimenu II dam was built.
According to the irate locals, the blueprints for the dam construction were already drawn and designed before a geotechnical survey was conducted without their consent.
The disgruntled residents also accused contractors for trespassing. Additionally, there were reports that water would sip into their houses upon completion of the project.
"We have lived here all our life, if this project takes off, where will we go? How will we survive without all the investments we have made here?" A distraught homeowner lamented.
A change in weather patterns that was witnessed upon completion of the Karimenu II dam project that left residents in the area suffering from the effects of cold was also raised as a major concern.
Efforts by local leaders to get involved in the matter and hold talks with with residents to esolve the stalemate were in top gear.
The dam construction comes when millions of Kenyans across the country are struggling with the effects of a severe drought, with some areas going for years without rain.
President William Ruto has pledged to deliver 100 dams under Public Private Partnerships to increase land under irrigation to three million acres by 2025.
“We will be moving a bit fast now and we have a public-private instrument that will support our dam-building efforts and water harvesting programme,” he stated in a previous event.
“We currently have a bad drought and it will only get worse due to climate change. Unless we change the environment, climate change is a reality that we must live with,” he added.
