Gatundu: Furious residents block water officials from conducting dam survey

The planned construction of the Ksh.13 billion Ndarugu II dam in Gatundu North, Kiambu County might not take off as initially expected after area residents refused to vacate the land set aside for putting up the public project.

Officers from Athi Water Services, who had toured Watathi village to allegedly conduct geotechnical survey and collect soil samples from various homes, were chased away by angry locals who burnt tyres and barricaded roads bringing activities in the township to a standstill.

Eyewitnesses say that the Athi Water officials initially agreed to halt their survey only to attempt to circumvent the angry mob by using an alternative route.

After area residents got wind of the said activities, the protests further escalated as locals proceeded to surround the Athi Water officials' vehicle effectively rendering it immobile.

The officials had no other option but to lock themselves inside the vehicle until local leaders arrived at the scene to de-escalate the situation.

Only a single chief was allowed to address the furious crowd which vowed to not release the government vehicle until three of their members, who had earlier been summoned by police on grounds of incitement, were released.

Speaking after their release, the trio vowed to continue with the protests while opining that construction of the dam would negatively affect the weather and crops grown in the region. Gatundu North farmers are major producers of sweet pineapples, avocado, tea, coffee among other crops.

The protestors added that by ceding the land to the state, they will incur the wrath of their ancestors, many of whom are buried on the parcel of land.

Ndarugu II dam is one of a hundred dams President William Ruto promised to deliver to Kenyans following his election in a bid to raise the country's current land under irrigation to three million acres while mitigating cases of drought across the country which are often occasioned by reduced rainfall.

It is also expected to boost water supply to various towns in Kiambu and Nairobi Counties.