Locals to lose out as Sonko, Wa Iria wrestle over water supply

The Jubilee government is facing a revolt from its own foot soldiers over control of water sources.

In an unprecedented turn of events, leaders from six counties around the Mt Kenya and Aberdare water towers have vowed to stop government programmes until water projects in their areas are complete.

The water squabbles have also caused a split between Jubilee leaders, with Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko threatening to take unspecified action against his Murang’a counterpart Mwangi Wa Iria for demanding levy for water piped to Nairobi.

Mr Wa iria and Murang'a MCAs have drafted legislation that would compel Nairobi to pay the former 25 percent of all revenue it earns from the resource.

“Wa Iria should not joke with us. I will deal with him if he touches Ndakaini dam. We will act on the building he has,” Mr Sonko said in a speech read at the opening of the ASK show on Thursday.

DAM

Mr Sonko also said most people in Nairobi were from Mt Kenya and leaders from the region should be considerate when making demands.

In Tharaka Nithi, Governor Muthomi Njuki vowed to block construction of High Grand Falls dam whose design, he argues, is not meant to benefit the locals.

The fate of the Sh200 billion dam project currently hangs in the balance in the face of stiff opposition from local leaders.

"We will not allow the national government to establish projects that only benefit people in the other counties when our people are suffering,” Governor Njuki said during commissioning Gatuuruni water project in Ciakariga.

The county boss opposition is also largely anchored on proposed displacement of at least 45,000 residents to pave way for the project expected to supply 5.6 trillion litres of water to Tana River, Kitui and Garissa counties.

The dam is also envisioned to produce 700 megawatts of electricity.

REVENUE

Other leaders, among them, Senator Kithure Kindiki and deputy governor Nyamu Kagwima have also opposed establishment of the dam that is set to relocate residents of five locations in Tharaka.

The leaders want the size of the dam to be reduced and designed such that its waters can be used to irrigate Tharaka land.

Mt Kenya region is one of the greenest parts of the country and hosts some of the largest water catchment zones.

Just like Turkana County residents who will get a 25 percent stake of oil in the region, the leaders say Mt Kenya residents also want a piece of the liquid cake.

“We are going to fight for our water the same way we fought for our land. We will fight for our birthright,” Governor Wa Iria told the Nation.

On the other hand, the government has accused the region of hogging the water hampering supply to other regions.

SCARCITY

According to Mr Stanley Kirimi of Mt Kenya Ewaso Water Partnership, the ongoing wrangles are a result of an increasing water scarcity in the catchment zone.

The scarcity, he argues, has been caused by unregulated water use by locals.

“The scarcity is increasing every day because there is no regulation in the first place. As much as water is a natural resource for all, leaders feel they should keep it for their people which is a misguided concept,” Mr Kirimi argues.

Water Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui has locked horns with Mr Wa Iria - who is adamant to stop flow of water to Nairobi unless his county gets the 25 percent.

Appearing before Senate, the minister said: “Water is a right for everybody. We should distinguish rights from what is done for profit. Water is a shared resource, therefore, it is for all of us.”

The government is building a Sh6.8 Northern Water Collector Tunnel to boost Ndakaini dam.