Gatundu North Residents Living Near the Karimenu II Dam Demand Compensation Before Relocating

Residents living near the overflowing Karimenu II Dam face a rising tide of floodwaters and a growing sense of desperation.

Acknowledging the threat posed by the dam, Gatundu North MP Njoroge Kururia said residents have been affected by floods after giving their land to the government for the construction of the dam and urges the government, National Lands Commission (NLC), and Athi Water Services to speed up the disbursement of the promised KSh 150 million to help them relocate to safer ground.

The residents themselves are determined in their demands and have refused to vacate their homes without fair compensation. John Karanja, a resident, echoes their sentiment: “We deserve to be heard. They can’t force us to leave without what’s owed to us. Where will we go? How will we live?”

Adding to their anxiety is the uncertainty surrounding the promised compensation. Residents are confused about who is responsible for payment, having been initially told all affected families would be compensated.

Jane Wairimu expresses their collective frustration: “We don’t know who’s supposed to pay us anymore. We were told all affected families would be paid, but now they keep going back and forth. We plead with the government to address this!”

The situation has become a tense standoff. Residents live in constant fear, like Joseph Kang’ethe who says, “We can’t sleep at night. Every sound wakes everyone up, terrified of being swept away by the floods that have already submerged our homes.” Kang’ethe’s words paint a vivid picture of the urgency for a resolution.

This comes amidst reports from Kiambu MPs who met with Water CS Zachary Njeru. While the government has released some funds to relocate and compensate a section of affected residents, a full resolution requires Ksh 1.3 billion.