The promise of a better life when the Sh5.2 billion Lower Kuja Irrigation project was launched in Migori county has remained a mirage for 200 families who are yet to receive compensation.
The families, mostly drawn from Sagama village in Nyatike subcounty are now calling on the National Irrigation Board to speed up compensation.
The project was launched in 2013 and so far 90 per cent of the project for 2,000 acres of land has been done. Works on the last block, which is about 600 acres, is 65 per cent done.
“We are yet to be compensated for land use and destruction caused by the construction which includes flooding of homes and dangerous unfinished canals left behind which has rendered us homeless,” Lawrence Otieno told the Star in a press conference at Ageng’a village.
Otieno said he was forced to leave his 14-acre land and rent a house at Nyakweri centre after flooding brought in the area due to unfinished works.
Michael Oluru, a father of nine, said he left his homestead after an unfinished tunnel which was supposed to be only five metres from the irrigation scheme, turned into a huge gulley that has been flooding his home.
“I can no longer do farming on my four-acre land as the gulley can even engulf a lorry and has shifted land marks,” Oluru said.
Esther Achieng' from Sagama area says she was forced to move from her home because of frequent flooding caused by new waterways that were dug near her home.
“We have no land elsewhere and I cannot do farming. We have no way of surviving,” she said.
The families, in a press statement, said they support the project but need compensation like other areas which have already benefitted.
Lower Kuja Irrigation Scheme manager Kennedy Ouma said despite the compensation hiccup, residents have embraced the project which mostly produces paddy rice.
“As a board, we are aware of the complaints of compensation. We are looking into it. I can't comment further because some cases are in court,” Ouma said.
So far, the authority is considering 32 compensation claims by a number of families who have been negatively affected by the project.
Already, 20,223 affected families were earmarked for Sh106.7 million compensation but the process has been delayed by lack of title deeds, poor land marking and lack of identifications.
-Edited by SKanyara
