Kakamega residents reject Sh200 million sewage project

By Joel Okwayo

It is a multi-million shilling project, but residents of Maraba village in Kakamega want nothing to do with it.

The locals want the Sh200 million-sewerage project to be relocated elsewhere.

And to show they mean business, they have threatened to burn equipment, vehicles and beat up workers who dare report to the site.

Efforts by the Provincial Administration and a water service provider to convince residents that the project will not have any negative impact on their health and environment have fallen on deaf ears.

Esau Omungalla, 38, says he has been a resident at Maraba for five years. "I settled at Lwatingu area in the village and had no idea that a sewage would one day be my neighbour," he says.

Lake Victoria North Water Services Board (LVNWSB) insists that the sewage treatment plant should be constructed at Lwatingu area, a stone throw from Omungalla’s house.

Residents of the village draw their water from Lwatingu River and Omungalla argues that the sewage plant will drain human waste into the river and expose residents to water borne diseases.

Omungalla says he has spent more than Sh100,000 on a tree planting project and another Sh3 million to put up a house. He says LVNWSB should pay him between Sh5 million and Sh10 million as compensation. Omungalla wonders why Maraba residents should be moved to pave way for the construction of the sewage plant. "The money for the project should be used for other purposes as the community in Lwatingu is opposed to the plans," says Omungalla.

Omungalla and over 200 other residents have maintained their opposition to the project. Some residents were given between Sh70,000 and Sh90,000 to vacate the area where the plant is to be put up.

The residents and human rights organisations have since demanded that the project be moved elsewhere.

They say discharge from the treatment plant could be channelled to River Lwatingu.

Coordinator for Western Centre for Legal for Aid, Caleb Mukabwa, claims an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) test was not done to allow the construction of the plant.

In one of the meetings, residents told officials of the board led by the Chief Executive Officer, Diru Magomere, they would not to allow the project to be imposed on them.

Magomere, who did not give a satisfactory answer to the residents during a meeting held at Lwatingu area in Kakamega Central District, was shouted down leaving the District Officer Maurice Ogweno to handle the matter.

Ogweno asked the board to consult residents before embarking on the project.

Isaac Ruto, an employee of the board, had to explain the procedures of constructing a treatment plant to the residents.

Ruto said the board was ready to ensure that clean water is supplied to residents.

He said the board is starting the project in the area after constructing a similar one at the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology at Shirere in Kakamega.

Ruto said National Environment Management Authority (Nema) would approve the project if regulations and rules are followed.

Nema’s Kakamega District Environmental District Officer Vincent Mahiva blamed the board for not holding consultative meetings with residents prior to starting the project.

Mahiva said Nema would not issue a license to the board until an assessment report is compiled and approved by the relevant authorities.

Lead Consultant Zablon Oonge of University of Nairobi claimed the residents were incited into rejecting the project. Dr Oonge said residents should not have fear of contracting diseases because of the plant.

"We have constructed such plants elsewhere and the final water from the sewerage is cleaner," said Oonge.

The Kakamega District Public Health Officer Fred Amutavi said the residents should not reject the plant. Amutavi said that Nabongo and Masinde sewages were not enough to serve the town.