Landowners in Gatundu North expected to cede their parcels for the construction of President William Ruto’s Sh 13 billion dam project have moved to court seeking its implementation halted.
In a petition by John Mwangi Kariuki, James Muchai, Willy Githua, Patrick Kariuki, and 485 other affected land owners, the residents want the court to declare that the process of implementing the construction Ndarugu II dam project is marred with opacity, lack of information and suppression of free, prior and informed consent and is thus unconstitutional.
The petition is against Athi Water Services, National Lands Commission (NLC), and China Road and Bridge Corporation, who are the contractors.
The land owners also want the court to declare that the exercise by the respondents threatens and contravened the national principles of transparency, accountability, public participation and the rule of law under Article 10 of the constitution.
“The petitioner also wants to order the quashing of Gazette Notice No, 1644 dated February 10, 2023 – being the intention to acquire land for the construction of Ndarugu II dam project in Kiambu County,” the petition reads in part.
The petitioners further want the court to declare the respondents as having acted in breach of due process.
