By P, KNA
Residents of villages surrounding Kenol Town in Murang’a South Sub-county, Murang’a County, are calling on the government to desilt colonial-era dams that have been their main source of irrigation water for decades.
The dams, built by white settlers to irrigate coffee and flower farms, now serve thousands of small-scale farmers who earn a living by supplying food to Kenol and nearby markets.
However, siltation and environmental degradation have gradually reduced their capacity, threatening livelihoods.
James Maina, chairperson of the Karung’ang’i Men’s Welfare group, said the dams cover about 40 acres and have been crucial in transforming the semi-arid area into a food basket.
“We rely on these dams for irrigation throughout the year. If they dry up, our economy collapses,” said Maina.
He said locals have been planting trees to combat deforestation and reduce soil erosion that causes silt to accumulate in the dams.
The group, together with the Women in Climate Change Organization (WICCO), recently planted more than 500 trees around Mukaba Dam to protect its banks.
Maina urged the government to desilt the dams to restore their storage capacity and support community efforts.
He noted that the dams have the potential to attract investors who can set up leisure and tourism facilities, creating jobs for local youth.
Lucy Kibandi, a village elder, called for the installation of water purification systems to make the dam water which residents currently use exclusively for irrigation safe for domestic use as well.
WICCO chairperson Diana Muthoni, on her part, said the tree-planting drive included bamboo, Moringa, guava, and loquat trees, which will prevent erosion and improve the area’s microclimate.
The sub-county Forest Conservator, Josephine Muringo, said over one million trees have been planted in the region since July.
“Tree roots hold soil in place and protect our water sources. Conserving these dams means securing our future,” she said.
She urged residents to stop grazing livestock near the dams in order to allow the new trees to mature.
