Kiambu Residents Living Near Karimenu Dam Demand Compensation Before Relocating: "Hatulali"

• Gatundu North MP Njoroge Kururia has asked the government and the National Lands Commission (NLC) to speed up the compensation of residents near Karimenu Dam
• The MP's plea comes after residents said they would only move after they have been compensated for the land they contributed to the government for the construction of the dam
• President William Ruto had ordered all Kenyans living around dams to vacate within 48 hours, as they could overflow following the current heavy rains

Gitwamba residents have defied President William Ruto's order to vacate their homes following the risk of the Karimenu Dam overflowing.

The government had ordered Kenyans living around dams to vacate as their water volume has increased following heavy rains.

According to a report by Citizen TV, Kimani Karanja, a resident said, the government should not only compensate them but also give them a structured plan as to where they are relocating.

"They should listen to us. They cannot tell us to vacate before giving us our dues. Where are we going and how are we going to live? We cannot leave before we are compensated," Karanja questioned.

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 construction of the dam.

"There's a problem caused by Karimenu Dam spilling over, yet people are living 10m from the dam. These people are suffering. It is flooded everywhere because the government took their land to construct the dam and none of them has been compensated," Kururia said.

Kururia calls on the government to compensate the resident

Pauline Wambui, a resident said, the compensation process is confusing, as to who is to pay between the county and national government.

"We now don't know who is supposed to pay us. It was said all affected families would be paid. We are still being taken back and forth, we plead with the government to look into our situation," she said.

Kururia called on the government, National Lands Commission (NLC), and Earth Water Services to hasten the process of compensation of KSh 150 million to affected residents to move on safe grounds.

"I'm pleading for the speed up on the compensation process of the agreed KSh 150 million to be paid to residents close to the water from the dam so that they can relocate to safer areas," he added.

Joseph Kang'ethe said they cannot sleep as they leave in fear of being swept away by the floodwaters, as the wind blows water near their residents.

"We cannot sleep, any sound awakens everybody for fear of being swept away. The floods have submerged the electricity posts and wires. We have been in the dark since," he said.

Residents around Masinga Dam asked to relocate

In other news, residents around Masinga Dam have been urged to relocate, as the water levels in the dam have risen, which could lead to flooding.

KenGen CEO Peter Njenga said residents in Mbondoni location, Kithecu, and Menguthe villages are at higher risk of the flood effects.

What more to know about floods in Kenya

• President William Ruto announced KSh 10,000 for 40,000 households affected by floods in Nairobi on Monday, May 5
• It was a relief for residents of Mombasa after the government announced end of Cyclone Hidaya that diverted to Tanzania
• Transport has been paralysed along Narok-Mai Mahiu road after the floods cut off the road following heavy rains in the area

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke