Stalled Thwake dam has left villages in crises

A Makueni school with 7 Pupils, an "idle"head teacher, zero capitation as locals fight for their relocation as well as the school away from Thwake dam project. [File, Standard]

It is eight years now since locals around Thwake Dam in Makueni were relocated after the state acquired some of their lands to allow for the construction of the dam.

About 1,792 people were moved to pave the way for the project around 2021; those around exuded confidence that it would bring blessings.

But according to residents, the project seems to have affected some key facilities, including Unyee Primary School.

Before most the locals relocated from this region, the school was boasting of over 400 pupils, but presently, the classrooms are empty.

"Three years ago, the school was full of life. Parents started withdrawing their children slowly. We have only remained using one classroom out of the tens of idle ones," Stephen Musau, the school head told the standard

Since capitation is based on learners' head count, the school remains unlucky, no capitation, development is a mirage

Jacinta Mutuku, an ECDE teacher, reveals that due to marauding wild animals from large tracts of idle lands left by relocating locals, the learners sometimes fail to report to school. They are forced to close the school momentarily.

"The whole school has only one girl and six boys. Sometimes we must make follow-ups when the whole class fails to report. Some walk from very far and therefore, we don't expect them to be at school on a daily basis," Ms Mutuku says.

The two teachers double as school guards as well as cleaners as the school has no security nor cleaner in the bush-like school.

The learners are scattered across 3 sub-locations of 58 villages, which experienced both total and partial relocation of villagers by the government.

Catherine Kyalo, 44, and Josephine Mutisya, 40 are forced to wake up around 4am to escort their children to Kitoto comprehensive school, 7 kilometres away.

"My children are in upper classes and am forced to take them through the thickets in the wee hours of morning. Unyeeo having no such classes means parents have to take their children to schools away from their homes," said Ms. Kyalo.

Again, Kyalo's land was 50 acres, and the government took only 10 acres. Her neighbours moved since their land was taken in full.

"Not only schools but also availability of water is a problem. When the population went down so did the development. We have no water kiosks, no roads, the region is abandoned," she added

Kalawa ward MCA Meshack Kalii notes that the dam's initial wall height was altered and therefore, an increase in the wall's height translates to an increase in the water catchment area.

"A bigger water reservoir is expected. The water throwback might cover peoples' lands to areas that are not compensated. Since the builders of the dam increased wall height then they should move people further," said Kalii

A 60-meter buffer zone was also cited as a major concern by the locals as not enough for wild animals.

The project, which has cost the government billions of shillings, was initiated in 2018 and has grinded to a halt following a recent revelation to the senate by Water Cabinet Secretary Erick Mugaa that the Russia- Ukraine war had affected the supply of explosives to the project.