By Anchor Writer
The County Government of Machakos is emerging as the biggest impediment to the construction of the long stalled Miwongoni Dam project after it skipped a key meeting to unlock the problem.
The high-level meeting to address the issues stalling the Machakos Water Supply and Sanitation Project, a key initiative funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Kenya Towns Sustainable Water Supply Program was chaired by Water,Sanitationand Irrigation Minister Eng.Eric Mureithi Mugaa
Others at the meeting inluded Machakos Town MP Caleb Mule, P.S Julius Korir ,Machakos County Commissioner Ms. Josephine Ouko, Tanathi Eng. Kyengo , CEO Athi water, Eng. Joseph Kamau ,Tanathi Chairperson Ms. Regina Ndambuki, MCA Mua Ward Francis Ngunga, and other officials.
There was not a single representative from the county’s leadership for Water or Lands office. Neither was the Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu present.
Both have frustrated works for the dam in different ways. Lands Minister Nathaniel Nganga stopped issuing titles to the land owners, claiming that the process was replete with corruption and irregularities. He then required a list of public utilities before the issuance continued.
This was contained in a letter to the Machakos Lands Registrar that was not copied to the relevant cooperative society. When a reply was given by the Chairman of Katelembo Cooperative Mr Wilson Muema, the minister has since remained mute over the matter.
Neither has a meeting between Mr Muema and Governor Wavinya Ndeti yielded any result to have the hurdles cleared for the works to continue.
Neither the senator,Mr. Nganga nor County Secretary Dr Muya Ndambuki responded to their calls to provide a comment.
The project aims to improve water and sewerage services in Machakos Town and its surrounding areas.
A centerpiece of the project is the 15-meter-high earth-fill Miwongoni Dam, designed to hold a storage capacity of 2.2 million m³.
Alongside the dam, significant progress has been made on other project components, including treatment works, storage tanks, and water mains, bringing the overall project completion rate to 73%.
However, land acquisition challenges at the dam site have caused significant delays, and county officials are said to be keen to explore chances of securing pieces for themselves.
Disputes involving the Katheka-Kai Farmers Cooperative Society and the Katelembo Athiani Muvuti Cooperative Society have been at the core of the issue, resulting in prolonged court cases. The situation has been further complicated by land grabbing allegations and administrative malfeasance, with claims of local officials allocating farmers’ land, creating conflicts of interest.
Despite these setbacks, there has been recent progress. The National Land Commission has finalized the valuation of land for affected persons and reached compensation agreements, paving the way for construction work to resume. While contractors have laid piping networks and constructed reservoirs, resolving the land issues at the dam site remains critical to the project’s completion.
Once completed, the Miwongoni Dam and the wider water supply system are expected to significantly enhance water and sanitation services in Machakos, boosting the region’s development and quality of life.
