Three high court judges on Monday toured the controversial multi-billion Itare Dam project in Kuresoi to assess its impact on the locals before proceeding to make a final verdict on whether to stop the entire project.
This was after nine counties moved to court to have the construction stopped on grounds that residents living within Ndoinet and Kuresoi areas will be greatly affected.
They claimed the dam will turn the area into an arid landscape which will later experience acute water shortage.
According to the bench led by justice John Mutungi, Dalmas Ohungo and Mohammed Kullow the purpose of the visit was to ensure they make a sound judgement on the matter.
During the last hearing, a government environmental expert was at pains to explain how public participation was done prompting the court to book a date to physically visit the 600-acre site in Kuresoi.
Speaking at the site, Engineer Zablon Isaboke, who was the chief consultant of the project and the maker of the environmental assessment report allayed fears that the project if complete would dry up rivers diverted to feed the dam.
“The project is halfway done and it is expected to supply up to 150,000 cubic meters of water to Nakuru County daily which will be enough to serve the scarce water town,” he said.
He added that land in which the water tunnel stands is owned by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) adding that upon completion the areas will be rehabilitated.
Lawyers James Mwamo and Kipkoech Ng'etich for the petitioners insisted that nine counties were never consulted by the national government over the project adding that the environment report by the state showing that the counties actively participated was a lie.
Mwamu insisted that the government of failed to honor existing treaties and overlooking the environment assessment report which outlined some counties would be deprived of water.