Locals deny Chinese firm water for SGR construction

Residents of Mwache in Kwale County have opposed a move by China Roads and Bridges Company to fetch water at a local river for construction of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

Under their group, MWACHIGA, which monitors water usage of the river, the residents accused the Chinese Company of depleting the commodity which is their only hope.

Speaking during a public baraza held at the river bank on Tuesday, the group’s secretary Samuel Chondo said the company did not follow due process before starting to fetch water from the river.

He noted that the company only informed the area Chief Benson Kalimbo who allowed them without recognizing the existence of the group which he is also a member.

Mr Chondo explained that as a community they normally use the river domestic use, watering livestock and irrigating their crops.

“Opposition to fetching of the water does not mean that we are interested with money. We are doing this for our own good and animals who have got no need for money,” he said.

He said, the construction company has a lot of money which it received from the government and could afford to get the commodity from another place.

He blamed the area Chief for disappointing them in spite of knowing so well that as residents they do not have any other alternative source of water apart from the river.

The besieged chief, who officiated the baraza, bowed down to pressure urging the company to look for the commodity from somewhere else because of overriding public interest.

He added that even the local administration will help the company in search of the commodity especially now that it is being faced by an acute shortage of water in its operation.

“Although the project is funded by government, the welfare of locals is also at stake because they will have nowhere to go once the water supply is totally depleted,” he said.