Mwache Dam Project Resettlement Efforts Underway, Committee Informed
The Blue Economy, Water, and Irrigation Committee, led by Hon. Kangogo Bowen of Marakwet East, convened today with Principal Secretary of the State Department of Irrigation, Mr. Ephantus Kimotho, to discuss the ongoing status of the Mwache Dam Project.
PS Kimotho provided a detailed update on the project’s resettlement efforts, revealing that 4,351 households, spanning 2,475 hectares, are being relocated to accommodate the dam’s construction. The compensation process is being executed in phases, with Priority Areas 1 and 2 fully acquired.
The committee was informed that the National Lands Commission (NLC) completed the valuation for Priority Area 3 in July 2024, estimating the compensation at Kshs. 2.9 billion. To date, the Ministry has allocated Kshs. 509 million to the NLC for these compensation processes.
Given the budget constraints, the Ministry has requested the Committee to advocate for an additional Kshs. 2 billion from the National Treasury to ensure comprehensive resettlement, noting that the current budget for the Financial Year 2024/25 stands at Kshs. 400 million.
Additionally, concerning the relocation of schools near the project site, the Ministry assured that construction of new schools is slated to begin in August 2024, with an anticipated completion date of April 2025, taking approximately eight months.
The Committee will now consider the Ministry’s requests as it continues to oversee the project’s implementation and resettlement activities.
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