The highly-hyped Badassa Dam Project is far from what it was earlier envisaged to be, at least for the people living in its vicinity. Saku Accountability Forum (SAF) has established that the project, estimated to cost over KES 2.9 billion, is a major cause of worry for the people of Jaldesa Location, who, like all other residents of Marsabit, were supposed to benefit from the project once completed (as well as during its subsistence). At the moment, it seems they'd just wish the project ended sooner than later.
According to a report titled Destroying the Present to Build the Future: The Agonies of Badassa Residents, various adverse environmental, health and socio-economic impacts currently felt by the residents of Jaldesa Location are directly attributable to the Project. Key among these are: destruction of the core livelihoods in the area, drying up of water points, pollution of the natural environment, frequent ill-health and related complications, immotorability of virtually every access road in the area, and corruption of the moral fabric of the local community (following an influx of "commercial sex workers" at Badassa Trading Centre). The report is the product of a recent study commissioned (in August) by the Forum, following incessant complaints by the area residents.
The report was duly shared with Midroc Construction Ltd., the Project Contractors, with copies being sent to, among others, the Director-General of the Nation Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation,and the Managing Director of the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation (NWCPC). It hardly goes without emphasis that the Forum, with a view to nurturing genuine discussions, departed from the known traditions, where reports are largely treated as "in-house properties".
Unfortunately, notwithstanding the Forum's highlight of the issues raised as "touching on the lives and livelihoods of people", hence deserving urgent attention, the Midroc Management failed to respond to the complaints raised. In fact, an individual representing the firm contemptuously ignored (or responded rudely to) the frequent calls by the Forum officials. This sad state of affairs has inevitably left the Forum and the affected community with no other option but to seek redress through all available legal options.
A detailed update will follow soon!
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