The residents who spoke to KTN News asked Uhuru to retract his decision saying the technical select committee recommendation was done without their participation.
They said that the committee relied on the wrong information to recommend the dam’s cancellation.
Residents of Kimwarer area in Elgeyo Marakwet county
have expressed displeasure with president Uhuru Kenyatta’s decision to cancel the construction of the ksh 22.2 billion Kimwarer mega dam project.#KTNPrime pic.twitter.com/J3KPvz3pRn— KTN News Alerts (@KTNNewsKE) September 19, 2019
In the findings presented to Uhuru on Wednesday, the Committee indicated that the Kimwarer Dam project had been overpriced and that it was neither technically nor financially viable.
It said the Dam’s water supply mechanism would involve pumping, which it found to be unsustainable in terms of operations and maintenance costs.
Following the findings, Uhuru ordered for the immediate cancelation of the Kimwarer Dam project.
The residents stand on the rejected project reflect that of their Senator Kipchumba Murkomen who has for the past two days criticised the President’s decision.
On a Facebook post, Murkomen took issue with the composition of members of the committee tasked with assessing the viability of Kimwarer and Arror Dam projects.
Murkomen said: “It is a shame that Maringa, Matu, Mwangi and Muiruri who have no knowledge or attachment to the region have misled the President. The technical committee did not consult anyone neither did they carry out any public participation”.
The Senate Majority Leader declared that he would not allow the President to be misadvised.
The Senator added that the only winner of the President’s action is Italian CMC Di Ravenna which the government contracted to do the projects.
“CMC Di Ravenna will reap billions of money from the breach of contract”