•Construction was scheduled to begin in 2016
•The dam is a joint project of the World Bank and the national government
Image: MAURICE ALAL
The construction of the Sh20 billion multipurpose Soin-Koru dam is yet to start three years down the line.
The project, straddling Kericho and Kisumu counties, is targeted at controlling floods when Nyando River overflows.
The job was scheduled to begin in 2016.
Kisumu Water executive Samuel Orimba said the dam is also meant to generate hydroelectric power.
He asked the national government to speed up the construction to address the biting water shortage in the region.
On completion, the dam will transform the lives of residents through agriculture and industrialisation.
Orimbo said the county government had reached out to the national government and was on the final stretch of reactivating the project.
They have also met those to be affected by the project and received positive response.
Out of the allocated funds, Sh18 billion was to be pumped into the project and Sh2 billion for compensation.
Andrew Wanyonyi, former National Water Water Conservation Pipeline Corporation MD, said Sh470 million had been disbursed to the National Land Commission to start paying compensation.
The delayed 93.7 million cubic metre-dam will be five kilometres upstream River Nyando from Muhoroni town.
In February 2018, Treasury CS Henry Rotich promised to fast-track the allocation of money for the construction.
The project, funded by the World Bank in partnership with the government, will be on 2,500 acres.
Muhoroni MP Onyango K'Oyoo called for public participation and compensation before the construction.
He assured residents that their views will be taken into consideration.
While in Koru two months ago, President Uhuru Kenyatta assured residents of compensation and construction of the dam.
Muhoroni and Soin residents had rejected the dam until proper engagement is done.
Charles Otieno, secretary Soin-Koru dam committee, on Monday claimed that they have not been involved in public participation.
Otieno said they are not against the project but they must be properly engaged and compensated. “We have not received a list of those to be affected and the parcels of land as well as Nema report,” he added.
The project will have have among others a treatment plant of 35.5m cubic metres. Water will be supplied to Muhoroni, Koitaburot, Koru, Chemelil, Awasi, Miwani, Ahero, Rabuor, Riat Technical College and Mamboleo.
Kisumu city, Ahero, Chemelil, Miwani and Awasi towns will be the other beneficiaries.