Residents of Kisumu and Kericho told to embrace fully Multi-purpose dam
By Dickson Odhiambo
June 11, 2020
Residents of Kisumu
and Kericho told to embrace fully Multi-purpose dam
Residents of both Kisumu and Kericho Counties have been
asked to fully embrace the Multi-billion dam that is set to be constructed at
the borders of the two counties.
Political leaders from three Constituencies in Kisumu and
Kericho Counties have told the residents to fully welcome the project known as
Soin-Koru Multi-purpose dam.
During a public participation process held today at Menara
Secondary school in Muhoroni constituency, three Legislators James Onyango
Koyoo of Muhoroni, Hillary Koskei of Kipkelion West and his Soin/Sigowet
counterpart Kipsengeret Koros have lauded the national Government’s move to come up with
the multi-billion project which will be of great help to the communities living
there.
Koyoo says it is prudent for the residents of the two
counties to take the project positively because it has a number of benefits to
them.
The Muhoroni Member of Parliament says no one should politicize
the issue of the multi-purpose dam without any apparent reason.
Koyoo says what now needs to be done is to discuss some
underlying issues that include compensation to the residents whose land will be
used for the project, adding that this is an issue that can be discussed exhaustively
hence an amicable solution found.
“We must embrace this project which the national Government
has brought to us because this is the right time for it and if we reject it,
other areas are ready to receive it with their two arms,” Koyoo says.
Hillary Koskei of Kipkelion West says the project has a long
history and its realization is long overdue.
He says his constituents have fully embraced the project
because of great benefits that will come up with it.
He says they have a timeline for the project as politicians,
adding that it has come at the right time for the residents of the two
counties.
Soin/Sigowet Member of Parliament Kipsengeret Koros all the
issues will be handled amicably for the success of the project.
The Chairman of the National water Harvesting and Storage
Authority Erick Okeyo says the National Government is keenly watching
on the kickoff of the project to benefit the public.
A section of residents who attended the meeting put the
Authority to task to explain how the issue of compensation will be done to
those who will be surrendering their land for the project.
They also wanted to know whether proper Environmental Impact
Assessment has been carried out before the project commence.
They demanded that there should be more public participation
processes about the project so that they be informed accordingly.
NWHSA Chairman Erick Okeyo said already the National Land
Commission has received part of the funding so as to compensate the residents
over their land.
He adds that the National Environmental Management Authority
{NEMA} is currently working on auditing the Environmental Impact Assessment
report that was carried out.
The National Government has allocated shs 25Billion for the
Soin-Koru Multi-purpose dam and already the tender has been advertised.
The Government requires about 2,500 acres of land towards
the construction of a multi-billion purpose dam which should kick off in August
this year.
The chairman of the National Water Harvesting and Storage
Authority said part of approved funds will be available soon once the National
Budget is read.
He adds that other funds will be available during the Supplementary
Budget in October this year, adding that the project’s timeline is five years
from the date of commencement.
The Chairman says about shs 2 Billion will be used to
compensate the land owners, adding that 206 parcels of land will be affected in
Kisumu County while 110 in Kericho county.
The proposed Soin-Koru Dam is a vision 2030 flagship project
which is located in Kisumu and Kericho counties along River Nyando
approximately 5 kilometers upstream of Muhoroni town and River Nyando is one of
the seven major rivers within the Lake Victoria Basin originating from the
upper highland areas and flows into the Lake Victoria.
The Soin-Koru Dam started in 1982 by Italian Government and
taken over by the NWCPC in 2009.
The Project’s components include Rockfill dam of 54 meters
height, storage capacity of 93.7MM cubic, water treatment works of 71.279
Meters cubic per day.
Others include trunk distribution pipelines of diameters
1200-150 millimeters and of total length of 122.54 kilometers as well as 12
number storage tanks of total capacity of 23.400 meters.
One of the major benefits of the project will be to control
the perennial floods caused by the river Nyando over-topping its banks thereby
affecting a section of residents in Kisumu County especially in Nyando,
Muhoroni and Nyakach constituencies.
Flooding within lower reaches of Kano plains displaces more
than 5,000 people yearly costing about shs 50 million due to damages and
further shs 30 million for rehabilitation measures.
Another benefit is water supply for domestic, commercial {Irrigation}
and institutional use as all the residents near the dam site and downstream of
the dam site will be served with water to supplement the existing facilities
where areas like Kisumu City and the emerging towns of Ahero, Chemelil, Miwani,
Muhoroni, Koru, Awasi, Koitaburot, Katito, Masogo and Ombeyi will be major
beneficiaries as a result of this projec.
The other benefits include increased area under irrigation
schemes in and around Ahero and West Kano Irrigation schemes from 1,800
hectares to 5,370 and also power generation of approximately 2.5 megawatts
which will be used to pump water to higher areas while excess power sold to
Kenya Power as this will translate to cheaper water and additional income for
the two counties.
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