At least three people, among them two policemen and a senior water official were roughed up and beaten by goons opposed to the construction of the proposed multi-billion Bonyunyu water project in Nyamira County.
Ms Hellen Mokone, a director with Lake Victoria South Water Services Board was among a team of experts who were on tour of the dam when about four youth manhandled her when she tried to calm villagers opposed to the project.
“I was only trying to understand the reason why they were angry at us when four boys attacked me, injuring me in the head and chest,” said Ms Makone from her hospital bed at the Galaxy Specialist Medical Centre in Kisii.
Two police officers among them an inspector were also injured when the rowdy youth pelted them with stones.
Masaba North OCPD Philip Wambugu said the officials were holding a stakeholders meeting and were winding up when the angry youth attacked them.
He said they were caught unaware because the goons who were armed with stones and other crude weapons turned against them.
"We were winding up the otherwise peaceful meeting near the site when all of a sudden hell broke loose culminating in the injuries on our officers and one of the water directors," Wambugu said.
He said that was the time Ms Makone who attempted to calm the tempers was roughed up.
"They were armed with stones which they pelted us with stones injuring the officers,” he said.
He described the incident as unfortunate.
The injured officers were rushed to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital for treatment.
He said he did not know the motive of the attack and as a security officer, he had not received prior information of an impending attack.
However, villagers in the area have in the past opposed the proposed water project, demanding that they be compensated before surrendering their land where the dam will be constructed.
Some villagers had in the past accused the board of not considering them as beneficiaries of water supply as it was set to serve Keroka and Kisii towns.
Lake Victoria South Water Board director Victor Omwanwa claimed there was some political hand was behind the incident.
“We urge investigations into the incident and action taken against the suspects. There seems to be more than meets the eye in this,” he said.
The controversial water project is to be funded Germany and Netherlands governments to the tune of Sh4.5 billion.
The project was to help in upgrading water supply and sanitation systems in Kisii and Nyamira counties as well as address water wastage and improve supply from the current 18 hours a day to 24-hours a day daily.