Challenges characterizing delay in completion of Karimenu II dam in Gatundu North, Kiambu County are not near to an end after a disgruntled family stormed the water project and demolished fence covering the treatment plant over delayed compensation of their land.
The family of Mugo Njoroge and which was evicted three years ago to pave way for the construction is demanding Sh 5.4 million compensation for their one acre and three plots.
They claimed that since their eviction, the government through National Lands Commission (NLC) has only paid them Sh 200,000, money they claimed to have used for relocation.
After leaving their ancestral land to pave way for the multi billion project, the family said they have been renting outside the area.
Lack of money to purchase new land and put up new houses, they said has turned them into beggars, lack of income compounding the already dire situation.
Efforts by armed police officers who turned up to avert further damage of the fence could not deter their resolve to express their displeasure with the government over mistreatment and harassment accorded to them.
Led by Esther Njeri, wife to the late Njoroge, the family vowed that not even torture by police or administration officers will cow their bid to seek their rightful compensation.
Construction of the Sh 24 billion dam is expected to boost water supply in Thika, Juja, Ruiru and parts of Nairobi.
The mega project has been hanging in balance since its construction began in 2019 and has been characterized with stoppages over delayed compensation of land owners.
The mega project has three main components among them the dam, water treatment plant of capacity 70,000m3/d and 67km of raw and treated water pipeline ranging from DN 500mm to 1,000mm.
Two terminal tanks will also be constructed of capacities 23,500m3and 3,000m3 in Ruiru and Juja respectively.
Karimenu II Dam project entails construction of a Dam of 59m height and 26.5 Million m3 storage volume to produce 70,000m3/d per day of drinking water.