- They told journalists early last week that they are in need of mosquito nets and insecticides as their bodies were full of pimples from mosquito bites.
- When completed, the project will put 585 acres of land under irrigation and will benefit 1,170 homesteads.
Image: Alice Waithera
Residents of Kanjama village in Mathioya subcounty have drained a stalled Sh 263 million water project that has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
In an exercise that took the better part of the day, the residents said they took the action as they did not want the National Irrigation Authority to help drain the water.
They told journalists early last week that they are in need of mosquito nets and insecticides as their bodies were full of pimples from mosquito bites.
NIA on Thursday sent the contractor back to the site to drain the water and close up the open channels in the intake that have been collecting run off water.
But the contractor retreated after the local chief was sent away by residents who had changed their minds and decided they would drain the water themselves.
The residents said they have been crying out to the local authorities for help for months.
However, the government only intervened when they publicised the issue.
They said they want to meet NIA officials to discuss how they will be compensated for the damages caused to their farms during the implementation of the project.
Image: Alice Waithera
They also want NIA to channel some of the water drawn from the intake to the village, which they said does not have water.
“We want to benefit from this water before it is taken elsewhere. How can they draw water from our village and cause us these problems yet leave us to continue fetching water from the river?” Margaret Wambui asked.
Wambui said they will not allow the time and resources they have spent seeking malaria treatment in hospitals be in vain.
Moses Wambugu said when they were called to the chief’s office to discuss the project, they requested to benefit from the project, but were told they would not.
Wambugu said NIA used local administrators to pressure a section of residents into signing consent forms.
However, the villagers do not see the need for the project if they will not benefit from it.
The villagers were led by Kiru MCA Morris Thuku who insisted that NIA had bypassed local leaders who, he said, would have fought for the interests of their people.
“These people have made it very clear that they want public participation for the project done afresh and have agreed that their leaders will have to be involved,” he said.
The ward, Thuku said, has about five water intakes that take water to other areas yet most areas don’t have the commodity.
The areas that have tap water get erratic supply that comes a few times every month and are charged Sh 500 for it.
The intake is for Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga Irrigation Water project that is being implemented in the neighbouring Murang’a East subcounty.
Its implementation started in August last year and was to be completed in February next year. It is 16 per cent complete against lapsed time of 86 per cent.
When completed, it will put 585 acres of land under irrigation and will benefit 1,170 homesteads.
According to Mt Kenya West National Irrigation Authority’s coordinator Joseph Muchina, the intake project was abandoned in June after the community grew hostile.
He said the project’s management committee will now be charged with the responsibility of reaching out to Kanjama village.
This is to convince residents to allow the project to be completed, saying the pipes cannot be installed in people’s farms forcefully.
(edited by Amol Awuor)