Murang’a residents clash with government as politics take centre stage

The Northern Collector Water Tunnel (NCWT) project in Murang’a has left leaders in the area between a rock and a hard place.

The leaders who include Members of Parliament and Members of the county Assembly do not want to seem to go against the people who have voiced their concerns on the project while at the same time avoid not appearing to be siding with the Jubilee government who are politically dominant in the region.

Most of the leaders (save for area senator Kembi Gitura who has opposed the project) have remained conspicuously silent.

Only two MPs, Irungu Kangata (Kiharu) and Tirus Ngahu (Kangema) have openly come out to voice their opinion, though they appear to be fence-setting on the subject.

The MPs said that they are not opposed to the project, but tangible benefits should be directed to the people.

The Sh6.8 billion World Bank funded project will see water from three rivers in the county diverted at source to Ndakaini dam through an 11.8km long tunnel.

The government says the flagship project, which is in line with Vision 2030 will end Nairobi’s perennial water shortage by supplying the capital with 140,000 cubic metres daily.

Cord claims

Cord leader Raila Odinga, who sparked off the controversy surrounding the project, labelled it “secret tunnels of death”.

Raila claims that the whole project should be halted and a fresh Environmental Impact Assessment conducted to ascertain any negative repercussions to the environment and Kenyan livelihoods.

Cord Senators James Orengo and Johnstone Muthama went even further to claim that the water would be diverted to a mega housing project owned by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Cord Senators Johnstone Muthama and James Orengo castigating the government on the project. (Photo: Moses Omusula)  

However the government, through Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, has rubbished the claims terming them as mere politics lacking any factual basis.

He maintained that the project had received clearance from the National Environmental Management Authority and was supported by local leaders.

Locals concerns

However, Murang’a residents feel short-changed over the matter and feel they have been taken for granted.

Over 60 per cent of households in the county lack access to clean piped water yet they supply most of Nairobi with the precious resource.

The tunnel also passes through private firms,giving rise to the issue of compensation which the locals say has not been appropriately addressed.

They also say that they were promised job opportunities, but workers from “outside the area” are the ones working on the tunnel construction.

The local residents want issues of infrastructural development, such as tarmacking of roads to also be included as part of the project.