Two dead after drowning in a Kiambu dam

Two brothers aged 15 and 13 years drowned Tuesday evening in a shallow end of a dam under construction at the Gatitu village, Kiambu County when swimming.

Residents said the dam poses great dangers to their lives. They also accuse the contractor of taking longer time than planed in the project, something they say has affected their daily operations.

They called on the Ministry of Water and Irrigation to ensure the construction is completed to avoid loss of more lives.

Local leaders said the project will be stopped until the Athi Water Company, which is constructing the dam, put in place proper security measures to caution the residents from drowning.

The local leaders urged parents to take care of their children and should not allow them to play near the dam.

Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) questioned the manner in which the construction work is being done and called on the responsible authorities to make sure a solution to secure the residents is reached within two weeks.

The construction of the dam is sponsored by the World Bank through Athi Water Company.

The dam is aimed at addressing frequent water shortages faced by residents of the lower part of Kiambu County.

The residents have been complaining that Athi Water Company has not fully compensated them for their land and are have threatened to reject the construction of the perimeter wall around the facility until their claims are addressed.