Mwea farmers protest failure by gov’t to compensate them

Over 3,000 farmers from Mutithi Ward in Mwea staged a demo on Friday, November 18, demanding compensation for land they surrendered to the government for the construction of Thiba Dam.

The angry farmers stormed the Mwea National Irrigation Board offices demanding compensation for each title deed they surrendered.

The government had requested Mwea farmers to allow furrows, canals and feeders required in the construction of ThibaDam to pass through their lands.

The farmers said despite them surrendering their title deeds and agreeing to relocate, the government and Mwea National Irrigation Board have not fulfilled their promise to compensate them as per the agreement.

The disclosure agreement stated that the government was to compensate the farmers to a tune of Ksh 15 billion if the canals passed through their land.

“It has been 5 years since we surrendered our title deeds yet not payment has been made,” said one of the farmers.

They have now issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government to compenstae them failure to which they will protest outside the Office of the President at Harambee House in Nairobi.

Written by Lucy Akinyi