The Water at Ndakaini Dam started to spill off as authorities caution people living downstream of possible floods.
From Saturday last week, spillage was witnessed in the dam which holds a capacity of 70 million cubic metres of water.
Authorities have allayed fears that the dam can burst its banks indicating that the dam is technically constructed and spillage is channeled to rivers Thika and Chania.
On Tuesday, the Murang’a governor, Mwangi wa Iria led a team of officials to visit the dam located in upper parts of Gatanga Sub county to assess its current state.
The governor said the dam is safe but issued a warning to people living in lower parts of the county, including Ithanga and Ngelyelia and parts of neighbouring counties to be wary of possible floods.
Some families who live closer to banks of the two rivers were advised to move to safer places to avert disaster.
Wa Iria blamed the ministry of Water and Irrigation of failing to take necessary strategies to utilise spillage water, saying many county residents lack piped water.
With the spillage, the governor wondered why there is still water shortage in parts of Nairobi city county, which is main consumer of the water from Ndakaini dam.
“The dam is filled to capacity but we have nothing to worry as the facility is well constructed. We however fear of possible flooding at lower parts of the county,” said Wa Iria.
The two rivers where the spillage flow to, are said to have swollen thus families living near the rivers may be affected.
The dam is the main water reservoir for Nairobi and its environs but locals complain of lack of clean water despite the facility being located in their locality.
Wa Iria
said the measures should be employed to ensure spillage water does not go to waste but utilised to provide locals with clean domestic water.
The Dam Coordinator, Job Kihamba observed that if the rains will reduce in coming days, the spillage will be minimal.
By Bernard Munyao
