Kindiki, Tarda boss differ on Sh150bn dam project

Tharaka-Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki has differed with Tana and Athi River Development Authority (Tarda) Chief Executive Officer Steven Githaiga over construction of Sh150 billion High Grand Falls Dam.

Mr Githaiga refuted claims by Prof Kindiki that the government had stopped construction of the proposed 165 square kilometre dam at Kibuka Falls on River Tana following a petition by the local leaders who want it reduced to minimise the number of people to be relocated.

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Speaking to the Nation, Mr Githaiga said the government had no intention to reduce the size of the dam that is expected to produce 730MW and irrigate thousands of hectares.

He said the government is currently working on cost validation of the project and its redesigning into a pumped hydroelectric scheme to make it economically viable.

“The government has no intention to reduce the size of the dam but to reduce its cost for economic viability,” said Mr Githaiga.

Speaking during at Kirukuma Methodist Church in Tharaka, the senator said: “We have talked to the government and accepted to stop construction of the dam until the proposed size is reduced.”

He said if the current map is used, a large population of the Tharaka people will be affected.

“If the size of the dam is not reduced, many locations including, Kamarandi, Kamanyaki and Maragua will be covered by water,” he said.

The dam will also affect the neighbouring Kitui, Embu and Tana River counties.

The legislator asked residents to continue establishing permanent development projects such as schools and hospitals noting that no work will start until the size is reduced.

On compensation that has been a thorny issue, Mr Githaiga said those  affected will either be given monetary compensation, relocated or bot