- The Wiper boss said his people must be compensated and not forced to relocate.
- Kalonzo warned against the project before residents are adequately compensated.
Image: FILE
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has opened a fresh political battlefront with President William Ruto over construction of a multi-billion dam.
Kalonzo has now asked President Ruto to ensure adequate compensation for affected families in the proposed Sh425 billion High Grand Falls Dam.
Kalonzo warned that he will oppose the ambitious project if the government attempts to proceed with it before compensating families.
On Monday, Kalonzo warned that he will lead a mutiny against any plans by the government to relocate residents to pave the way for the dam.
“People must be given adequate monetary compensation so that they can choose where to resettle and not be forced into a settlement scheme,” Kalonzo said.
The mega project is good news for the rest of the country but not to thousands of residents of Tharaka Nithi, Kitui and Embu counties who will be relocated to make room for the project.
The Grand Falls Multi-purpose dam project is planned to be on River Tana and its site is located 50 km downstream of the Kiambere Hydro Power Station along the River Tana in Kitui, Embu and Tharaka Nithi Counties.
The project principle components are the High Grand Falls dam and hydro power plant with ancillary installations; and the downstream area irrigation schemes, pumping station, flood protection infrastructure and rural domestic water supply.
The project, arguably the largest in the country after the Standard Gauge Railway, is among six dams to be undertaken under Kenya’s and the UK’s new strategic partnership.
The projects are mainly targeting the agriculture sector as Kenya seeks to counter adverse effects of drought through elaborate food production interventions.
The Wiper boss who spoke during a funeral ceremony in Itunguni village, Tseikuru sub-county, asked President Ruto's government to allow residents to decide where they will live.
He also said those who will be affected by the dam must be handled with dignity after adequate public participation has been done.
“Our people must be compensated first," Kalonzo said.
Kalonzo's tough stance is likely to throw President Ruto back to the drawing board after the government recently inked a deal with the UK for the financing of at least six projects.
The government is said to prefer relocation of affected families to giving them money so they can decided where to buy land.
The dam is part of the Sh1.5 trillion Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor projects that are expected to help Kenya achieve its Vision 2030.
The government plans to start work on the dam in 2024 with the project expected to be completed between three and five years.
The project is part of the government's plans to enhance food security with some 400,000 hectares targeted for irrigation.
The dam is expected to generate 1,000MW of electricity.
A feasibility study conducted in 2012 by the Tana and Athi River Development Authority (TARDA) indicated that at least 4,500 households would be affected in Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Kitui counties.
However, Tharaka Nithi leaders have demanded a fresh feasibility study in order to capture every detail.