The High Court in Nakuru has allowed Nakuru Water and Sanitation Service Company (NAWASSCO) to be enjoined in a case in which Kipsigis council of elders are seeking to stop construction of the Sh34 billion Itare dam in Kuresoi North, Nakuru County.
Through lawyer Bernard Akango, the water firm successfully applied to enjoined in the case as an interested party in the suit currently being heard by Justice Dallmas Ohungo in the Environment and lands court.
According to lawyer Akango, the dam in question if constructed, his clients company which is currently authorized to supply water within Nakuru County will be mandated to supply the water from the dam to Nakuru residents hence the need to be enjoined in the case.
“Nawassco is an authorized company that normally supply water to the whole of Nakuru and if the dam is constructed they will be mandated to do the same,” he said.
In the suit, the elders argue that the dam will cause rivers at the Lake Victoria catchment to dry, hence should not be constructed, they further add that the project will only be of help to a few populace in Nakuru.
They say that the dam, to be funded by the German government, has adverse climate change effects in the long run that will cause trees, birds, animals, fish to die when the water is diverted during its construction.
Six counties which were enjoined in the suit also cried foul of the project by the government adding that they were never consulted when the environment assessment report was being conducted.
Bomet, Narok, Kericho, Nyamira, Kisumu and Migori counties are seeking to stop the construction of the dam on grounds that the project directly affects their counties which they say are at the greatest risk of being rendered dry lands.