Relief for Nyeri residents as KTDA compensates flood victims with Ksh.12.1 Million

Relief has finally come for dozens of families in Gituagi Village, Nyeri County, after the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) compensated residents whose homes and crops were destroyed when the Gura Hydro Canal collapsed during the recent long rains.

A total of KSh12.1 million has been paid to 44 affected families, bringing to an end months of uncertainty and negotiations following the incident that disrupted lives and livelihoods in the area.

Speaking during the compensation announcement, Gura Hydro Power Project Chairman Wambugu Mukundi said the community had accepted the compensation package and welcomed additional commitments made by KTDA to address long-term concerns.

Mukundi said the agency will undertake several development projects within the community, including the construction of a library, rehabilitation of roads running alongside the canal, and support for irrigation infrastructure aimed at improving food production and increasing farm incomes.

Community Chairman Moses Wanjau Mwai praised the agreement, noting that residents had also secured commitments to enhance safety around the hydroelectric facility. According to Mwai, CCTV cameras will be installed and sections of the canal fenced to help prevent accidents and improve monitoring of the water infrastructure.

The compensation follows extensive assessments of damage caused when sections of the canal gave way during heavy rainfall. The collapse resulted in flooding that damaged homes, destroyed crops, and affected families who depend on farming as their primary source of income.

The Gura Hydro Power Project, a 5.8-megawatt run-of-river hydropower plant in Nyeri County, was developed by KTDA to provide affordable renewable energy to four tea factories—Gitugi, Iriaini, Chinga and Gathuthi. By generating electricity from natural river flows without the need for a large dam, the facility helps lower tea production costs while promoting clean energy.

Widely viewed as a successful example of sustainable rural industrialization, the project continues to play a significant role in supporting Kenya’s tea sector, one of the country's leading foreign exchange earners, while also contributing to community development initiatives in Nyeri County.

The compensation was issued during a community forum attended by residents, KTDA leadership, the Gura Power Company Board and representatives from Majani Insurance. The forum provided an opportunity for engagement between the affected community and project stakeholders on both compensation and future safety measures.

KTDA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting farmers and communities around its operations while upholding its duty of care to residents living near its infrastructure.

Among those present were KTDA Acting Group CEO Eng. Francis Miano, Zone 4 Board Member Mr David Ndung’u, KTDA Power Company Acting General Manager Eng. Moses Shikuku, and Majani Insurance General Manager Pauline Mwangi.