Residents of Galole constituency have sought Parliament's intervention over delays in gazettement of parts of Hola Irrigation Scheme to facilitate expansion of Hola town.
In a petition presented by their MP Buya Hiribae at the National Assembly, the residents want degazettement of 2,000 acres in the southern and eastern parts of Hola Irrigation Scheme fast-tracked.
They argue that the proposed degazettement and replacement of the south-eastern segment of the scheme will secure the expansion of Hola town and Tana River county in general.
They said economic, social and infrastructural development is presently hindered by the scheme’s current location.
“Efforts to have the matter resolved by the relevant authorities have not yielded any fruit,” they said.
Hola Irrigation Scheme in Tana River county was gazetted on April 26, 1963 and covers approximately 12,630 acres.
It was initially used as a settlement scheme for thousands of Mau Mau freedom fighters and residents of Tana River in general in the 1960s.
The scheme is at the heart of Hola town and has over the years proven to be disadvantageous to residents.
This in view of the fact that it continues to block the much needed expansion of Hola Town, which is the headquarters of Tana River county.
In a bid to address the long-standing challenge, officials of the national government, Tana River government, National Irrigation Authority, Members of Parliament, the National Land Commission and other stakeholders met in Hola town on July 15, 2021.
They agreed to degazette 2,000 acres in the southern and eastern parts of the scheme to facilitate expansion of Hola town.
The meeting further proposed extension of the scheme’s northern borders by a similar acreage of 2,000 acres so as to compensate for the degazettement.
