Conflict is looming between residents of Mutunyi area in Buuri Sub-county of Meru County and residents from Isiolo over a water project meant for Isiolo International Airport.
According to the residents from Mutunyi, the project which is a National Government project is targeted to tap water from Mutunyi stream which has very little water noting that that’s the only source of water they rely on both for domestic and farming use.
Grace Eliko and Jane Wakandi both residents from the area say that they are not comfortable with the move by the National government of tapping water from that small steam adding that as residents they will highly suffer.
They urged the government to look for another source of water for the Isiolo International Airport.
Jane Wakandi said the little water from the stream is what they rely on and that tapping of the water by the Airport will make them food insecure as they use the water to do irrigation noting that the area is usually dry and receives very little rains.
Wakandi said they do not want to become venerable as a result of the project to an extent that they will end-up relying on relief food.
The Meru governor Peter Munya while opening a dispensary in the area said dislocating the project and directing it to Isiolo Airport could automatically render residents of the area without water resource and thus make them slaves to others or internal displaced persons
Munya added that the Government should seek an alternative means of water supply rather than sending General Service Unit (GSU) officers to teargas and cause distress to peaceful communities affected when they demonstrate.
He said Mutunyi people are suffering due to deficiency of water and that was why he asked the President to construct the Kianjuri Mega Dam so that there can be enough water supply in the area and also in Isiolo.
The Meru governor said Mutunyi residents have a right to demonstrate as they are in a Country that follows the law but the solution is not GSU.
He wondered how the project can construct a twelve inch piped intake adding that this will make the stream dry up completely.
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