By Magi Akinyi
The water woes in Mombasa may not end as soon as was expected following compensation controversy surrounding the construction of Ksh.20bn Mwache Dam.
Residents in Mwache want the construction of the dam stalled over compensation issues with the National Lands Commission.
The victims have claimed that NLC has shortchanged them on compensation packages.
They accused NLC of forcing them to accept a compensation package of between Ksh.250,000 to Ksh.350,000.
According to the victims, NLC has been using threats instead of meeting them to solve the dispute before relocation.
The project is being co-funded by the World Bank and the Government of Kenya to the tune of sh.20bn.
Kwale County women representative Zuleikha Hassan has condemned local leaders for remaining silent on the matter.
“It’s very unfortunate that Mwache Dam construction was made to benefit the locals but it has turned out to destroy their lives” said Zuleikha.
Zuleikha said that the compensation package given to the victims was insufficient and that NLC should consider the package before relocating the victims.
Zuleikha has said that she has written to EACC to investigate the Mwache Dam land compensation.
She further accused Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya of remaining silent on the compensation of victims despite the matter affecting hundreds of locals.
The dam is meant to harness flood waters from Mwache River basin in Kinango sub-county and help tackle persistent water shortages in the coastal region.
