Wote: The National Land Commission (NLC) has launched a survey to demarcate land acquired by the government for the construction of the Thwake Multipurpose Dam in Makueni County.
According to Kenya News Agency, NLC Deputy Director of Survey Sospeter Ohanya stated that the exercise will take two months and aims to establish the exact project boundaries while setting aside land for access roads, community utilities, and other essential amenities. Ohanya emphasized the importance of reserving land for supporting both the dam and the surrounding community during a media address at Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr's office in Wote town.
He added that any unutilized land would be returned to the rightful owners and revealed that more than 96 percent of landowners had already been compensated, with only a few pending cases. Governor Mutula welcomed the initiative as a progressive step in safeguarding public resources and preventing future disputes.
Governor Mutula highlighted the differences from past projects, noting that measures like these were not seen during the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). He expressed confidence that this approach would prevent encroachment into the dam area and future claims on the land. He also praised the commission for compensating most affected families, mentioning that only three had not received payment due to succession disputes.
Mutula emphasized the survey's role in providing a permanent record to guide future decision-making and help avert land-related conflicts. He noted that the records from the survey would be shared with both the county and the NLC to preserve them for posterity.
The governor also pledged continued collaboration with the NLC on land management and accountability. The Thwake Multipurpose Dam is one of Kenya's key flagship projects aimed at addressing water supply, irrigation, and electricity needs in the lower Eastern region.