Water supply for Nyamira and Kisii counties, irrigation, flood control
Bonyunyu Dam Water Project
KES 5.8 billion dam project in Nyamira County to alleviate water shortages, stalled due to community opposition.
AnnouncedJanuary 1, 2015
Financials
Offering PriceKsh 5,800,000,000KES
Timeline
Project Announced
Government announced plans for KES 5.8 billion dam in Nyamira
Community Opposition and Violence
Local shot and killed after confrontation with surveyors; project split community along political lines
Project Stalled
Donor deadline missed as community resistance prevented progress
Scandals & Controversies
Community Opposition and Violence
June 1, 2017Local shot and killed after confrontation with surveyors; project split community along political lines
Politicians Involved
John Nyagarama
GovernorSupported the dam project despite community opposition
Benefits
Description
The Bonyunyu Dam is a KES 5.8 billion water project proposed for construction in Nyamira County to address chronic water shortages affecting Kisii and Nyamira counties. The project, which was to be financed jointly by the Kenya government and the African Development Bank, has been stalled due to fierce community opposition. Local residents split along political lines, with those opposing the dam citing inadequate compensation plans and lack of transparency about how the community would benefit. One local was shot and killed after allegedly turning violent on surveyors at the site. The government set a March deadline to beat donor funding conditions, but community resistance has prevented progress.
Overview
Would significantly alleviate water shortages for residents of both Nyamira and Kisii counties if community concerns are addressed