Ngama 51 residents raise concerns over dam project

School-going children crossing the controversial water project in Ngama 51 in Loitotok/Gilbert Koech.

Residents of Ngama 51 in Loitoktok, Kajiado county, have raised concerns over a government-backed water dam project, accusing authorities of sidelining the community by failing to conduct public participation and flouting environmental regulations.

The proposed dam, expected to hold 70,000 cubic metres of water and feature a 17-metre-high concrete wall, is being implemented along the Nalemuru River.

While officials claim the project has received the necessary approvals, the Water Resources Authority disputes that claim, saying no Environmental Impact Assessment has been conducted.

EIAs are crucial for assessing a project’s potential environmental effects and recommending mitigation measures. Without it, residents fear irreversible damage to their land, water access and livelihoods.

Julius Mzee, a farmer whose land borders the project site, says the construction has already destroyed a significant portion of his farm.

“Three-quarters of an acre of my land has been damaged. There’s no signage to inform people about the project—no indication of who is behind it or when it will end,” Mzee said.

He said the dam is a national government initiative, yet the legally required public participation process was never carried out.

“We are not against development. We just want it to follow the law. But every time we raise our concerns, no one listens,” he said.

Mzee claims heavy machinery moved into his land without notice, destroying crops like maize.

Other community members are also affected. Joseph Kapaito said the project has disrupted access to the river where cattle drink and children have historically crossed on their way to school.

“Now, parents have to wake up at 3 am to help their children cross the river. It’s dangerous and stressful,” Kapaito said.

Geoffrey Mpoke, another resident, said even the sick are struggling to get to health facilities, as their regular routes have been blocked by the construction.

A resident engineer involved in the project, who declined to be named, claimed the dam design allows for environmental flow. He said once full, excess water will flow through a spillway.

But WRA's Basin area coordinator for the Athi region, John Munyao, challenged the project’s legality.

“Do you have authorisation to build this? Do you have an environmental impact assessment? Without these, you’re operating illegally,” Munyao said during a recent visit.

While the engineer insisted that a request for authorisation had been made, WRA confirmed no formal application had been submitted through the required sub-regional office. As a result, WRA has issued a stop order on the project.

“When you're doing an illegal structure and a stop order is issued, you’re required to halt work immediately and comply,” Munyao said.

The controversy surrounding the dam comes as the area featured prominently in the just-concluded Journey of Water 2025 campaign—an environmental awareness initiative led by WWF-Kenya.

This year’s campaign highlighted the significance of two key transboundary rivers, Kimengelia in Tanzania and Noolturesh in Kenya, both originating from the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and collectively supporting over 227,000 people.

Under the theme ‘Rivers without borders: One source, shared future’, the campaign emphasised the need for cross-border cooperation in managing water resources and addressing climate resilience.

Backed by the Netherlands Embassy, BMZ, and other partners, the journey of water initiative engages communities through river walks, town hall meetings, and collaborative resolutions aimed at protecting vital catchment areas.

This year’s event concluded with a joint commitment from stakeholders in both Kenya and Tanzania to strengthen water resource management.

As the campaign promotes environmental stewardship and transparency, Ngama 51 residents hope the same principles will be applied to the dam project unfolding in their backyard.