Naro Moru residents oppose Sh35m Njogu-ini dam project
Residents of Njogu-ini in Kieni, Nyeri County protest in Naro Moru Town on August 22, 2016 against the building of a Sh35 million Njoguini-Getero-Kibati water storage dam project. They said they were not consulted on where the dam should be built. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- They said they would stage a peaceful demonstration every week.
- The dam is a project by the national government through the Nyeri Woman Rep Priscilla Nyokabi.
- The government policy discourages building of dams in forests.
- This could explain why the Njogu-ini dam is being built downstream.
Dozens of residents of Njoguini in Nyeri County Tuesday staged a protest in Naro Moru Township demanding a stop to a Sh35 million dam project.
The residents expressed dissatisfaction with the location of the dam saying it is being built downstream instead of upstream.
“The dam is being built on a private land without a title deed and without following proper procurement procedures and no public participation,” said Mr Edward Mwirigi.
The irate residents marched towards the deputy county commissioner’s office chanting songs as they gave a two-week ultimatum for they demands to be met.
They said they would stage a peaceful demonstration every week.
The dam is a project by the national government through the Nyeri Woman Representative Priscilla Nyokabi and is being managed by the Tana Water Services Board.
It is designed to serve Njogu-ini, Gitero and Kabati villages.
However, residents of Njogu-ini said the implementation of the dam project is discriminatory because it is not close to them.
The government policy discourages building of dams in forests, which could explain why the Njogu-ini dam is being built downstream.
Deputy County Commissioner James Chacha said he would look into the memorandum presented to him by the protesters though he did not agree on the two week ultimatum they gave.
