Turkwel fishermen face uncertainty as rains fill dam to capacity

The dam, where they conduct their fishing activities to feed their families and sell the surplus, is now out of bounds for them for an indefinite period. 

The ongoing rains have filled the dam to capacity, making any fishing a dangerous activity. As they anchor and secure their boats, police officers stand guard to ensure they evacuate the area promptly.

John Longiroi, a fisherman at Turkwel Dam, expressed his concern, "Mawimbi imekuja kwa wingi sana. Ukiiona mawimbi imekuja, una weka boat kando kwanza mpaka mawimbi iishe. Mi naona sasa hii ni mbaya kutembea kwa bahari."

Mark Choge, another fisherman at Turkwel Dam, added, "Mvua inaendelea kunyesha. Tukiskia maneno ya huko juu vile maji inabeba watu, hata sisi tunaishi in fear sababu hio maji ni the same na hii so tunaogopa sana mwakati maji inaendelea kujaa."

The Turkwel Dam joins the growing number of dams filled to capacity in the country due to the ongoing rains. The government has issued orders banning the immediate cessation of fishing activities, citing dangerous water levels and strong currents.

 County security teams in the area are warning those living nearby to start evacuating to avoid any loss of life and property.

Sammy Naporos, Managing Director of KVDA, stated, "The levels today we are at 1135 metres ASL, so we only have 15 metres for the dam to overflow and start spilling. 

We are urging Kenyans living along the lowlands that we will experience spilling and it may cause loss of life and property."

Wycliffe Mnanda, Deputy County Commissioner of West Pokot, emphasized, "Tumehamasisha watu ambao wanafanya uvuvi hapa Turkwel Dam kwamba huu msimu ni hatari so wazingatie ile masharti tumewaeleza na pia tuko na askari wanafanya patrols area hii ya dam na wata enforce kuzingatia sheria."

Interior Security CS Professor Kithure Kindiki on Thursday directed those living within immediate neighborhoods of filled-up public or private dams or other water reservoirs to evacuate immediately and move to safer grounds. 

He noted that over 178 dams are filled up or near-filled up across 38 counties.