The setting up of two multi-purpose projects in Arror and
Kimwarer in Elgeyo-Marakwet County at a cost of Sh63 billion is set to
start after a regional authority invited bids for land to resettle
locals who will be displaced.
Kenya Valley Development
Authority (KVDA) managing director David Kimosop said the tender for
construction of the proposed dam projects and the funds have been
secured.
“Construction shall commence once the affected
households have been re-settled. In view of this, KVDA seeks to acquire
land from private individuals and institutions, on behalf of households
to be displaced by the projects,” said Mr Kimosop.
In a newspaper advertisement on Thursday, Mr Kimosop said the minimum size of land sought is 100 acres.
The
planned resettlement is expected to end a tussle between residents at
the project sites and Elgeyo-Marakwet county government, with the latter
last month barring KVDA from undertaking the project until it conducts a
fresh public participation exercise.
According to Mr
Kimosop, the Arror and Kimwarer hydro-electricity projects will cost
Sh35 billion while the Kimwarer project will cost about Sh28 billion.
Both are in Kerio Valley region and are meant to produce electricity and
boost irrigated agriculture.
Mr Kimosop said more than
800 families would be displaced. The project will cover 4,000 acres.
“Displaced families are expected to receive about Sh6 billion as
compensation, including swapping of land. They will be settled elsewhere
under mutual agreement in the next six months,” said Mr Kimosop.
He
said the Arror project, which is expected to generate 60 megawatts of
electricity to the national grid, is a joint venture between CMC di
Ravena and Itenera of Italy, with a loan from the Italian government.
“More
than 10,000 acres of land will be placed under irrigation. The water
will also be used by over 100,000 households,” said Mr Kimosop, adding
that 50km of road would be constructed and 185 square km of land would
be under water catchment conservation.
He
said the projects would minimise importation of power and save foreign
exchange reserves. “Most families have proposed swapping of land as part
of compensation. Measures have been put in place to settle them
elsewhere under mutual agreement in the next six months,” he said.
Local
residents have welcomed the project and told politicians to keep off.
“KVDA is working hard to implement the project for the good of the
people. We should support them,” said Kerio Youth Association chairman
Joel Kimaiyo, adding that KVDA was implementing the project on behalf of
the national government.
The residents said the
project would help tackle perennial food shortages in the region by
promoting irrigated agriculture, improve infrastructure and establish
eco-tourism projects. These could have more benefits that those brought
by the county government in the past five years.
Mr Kimosop said proceeds of the project would go to conservation of water catchment areas destroyed by de-forestation.
The
Arror hydro-electricity and irrigation project will be the second in
Kerio Valley region after the Turkwel hydro-power plant.
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