"Why mega dams project faces stiff resistance"

In urban areas, the question of where the clean fresh water we use in our homes originates from rarely crosses our minds even as we open that tap to quench thirst, take a bathe or do laundry. Most of the water used in major towns in Kenya including Nairobi city comes from dams. The recent establishment of Sh23 billion Itare dam (Bomet), Sh30 billion Arror (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Muranga’s Sh6.8 billion Northern Water Collector Tunnel are eliciting mixed reactions.

In Elgeyo Marakwet, where three multipurpose dams are set to be constructed at Sh80 billion at Arror, Kimwarer and Embobut, residents are up in arms, accusing the state of ignoring their plight for adequate compensation before the mega projects kick off...The desperation for clean water is evident, with residents fetching water from streams that drain water to dam regardless of the health risks. Angry locals momentarily disrupted a recent annual conservation run at Chebara dam, Elgeyo Marakwet to protest lack of piped water in their homes...

Paul Chelimo, a resident and chairman of Moiben Water Resource Users Association (WRUA), a community based organization says residents living adjacent to the dam, including Chebara trading centre, Chogoo, Kapkoros, Chebiemit, Kilima and Kapsiliot areas are not benefitted from the dam. Chelimo states that ELDOWAS and other organisations have been working to protect the dam’s water sources, placing supply of water to residents near the dam on the back burner.