Sh12bn Kirinyaga dam work starts in September after compensation

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More than 614 families have been compensated, but they are yet to vacate their ancestral land because they are awaiting a final payout of about Sh2.1 billion, according to documents at the National Irrigation Board – the project implementers.

The government has released Sh2 billion to compensate land owners who will be displaced by the Sh12 billion Thiba Dam in Kirinyaga County.

Governor Joseph Ndathi said the commencement of the project had initially been delayed as some of the land owners were still holding out for complete payout before they move from the site earmarked for the project.

“The central government has assured us that the money is ready and work is set to commence in September, and should be complete in the next three years,” said Mr Ndathi.

On completion, the dam is expected to increase the acreage under irrigation and the number of households with access to clean water.

More than 614 families have been compensated, but they are yet to vacate their ancestral land because they are awaiting a final payout of about Sh2.1 billion, according to documents at the National Irrigation Board – the project implementers.

The project will be constructed along Thiba River in Kabare and Baragwi locations in Gichugu constituency.

According to the Resettlement Implementation Unit (RIU), under the National Irrigation Board, 560 acres with 253 registered land parcels were earmarked for acquisition for the dam.

But even as the governor expressed optimism that the new dam would increase crop output, he urged the national government to increase marketing for horticultural crops.

“We are hardworking people but unfortunately whenever we have bumper harvest we do not get value for money because we end up being exploited by middlemen,” said Mr Ndathi.

He cited an example of the rice sector where brokers were bringing in cheap rice and packaging it as if they were from Mwea, resulting into loss of confidence from consumers.

“Kenya Bureau of Standards and those charged with the responsibility of manning our boarder points must crack the whip on those killing our local industries,” he said.

He argued that the woes being experienced in the sugar sector where the leading millers were on their knees was a result of smuggling.