KTDA pays KSh12 Million compensation to 44 families affected by Gura canal damage in Othaya
By WMW
Forty-four families affected by the destruction caused by the damaged Gura Hydro canal in Othaya, Nyeri County have received KSh12 million in compensation in a move aimed at helping them rebuild their livelihoods and recover from losses occasioned by the incident.
The compensation was issued yesterday during a community engagement forum that brought together affected residents, Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) leadership and members of the Gura Power Company Board.
The affected families, drawn from communities neighbouring the Gura Hydropower Project suffered losses in the, month of March after torrential rains damaged sections of the hydro canal, leading to the destruction of farms and property.
KTDA said the compensation package demonstrates the agency’s commitment to supporting communities living around its operations and ensuring that those adversely affected receive assistance to recover.
The forum also provided an opportunity for residents to engage directly with the leadership of KTDA and seek updates on mitigation measures being undertaken to prevent similar incidents in future.
Among those present were KTDA Acting Group Chief Executive Officer Eng. Francis Miano, Nyeri zone board member David Ndung’u, KTDA Power Company Acting General Manager Eng. Moses Shikuku, Majani Insurance General Manager Pauline Mwangi as well as the project board chairman Teobald Makundi Temuwa.
Speaking during the meeting, KTDA officials reaffirmed the organisation’s duty of care to farmers and neighbouring communities, noting that the compensation process had been undertaken following assessment of the losses suffered by affected households.
“KTDA remains committed to supporting farmers and communities around its operations and upholding its duty of care to all within its areas of operation,” the agency said.
The Gura Hydropower Project, owned by KTDA through four tea factories in Nyeri County, was established to reduce energy costs for tea factories and generate additional income through the sale of surplus electricity to the national grid.
The project, which produces approximately 5.8 megawatts of electricity, serves Gathuthi, Gitugi, Iria-ini and Chinga tea factories while also supplying excess power to Kenya Power.
The latest compensation marks another chapter in the long-standing concerns surrounding the canal’s vulnerability during periods of heavy rainfall.
Heavy rains caused sections of the seven-kilometre canal to overflow and trigger landslides, destroying tea bushes, napier grass and portions of farmland belonging to neighbouring residents. At the time, affected farmers demanded compensation and called for investigations into the safety of the infrastructure.
Following the latest incident, residents have welcomed the compensation while expressing hope that permanent engineering solutions will be implemented to safeguard lives, property and livelihoods.
The engagement forum also underscored the importance of continued dialogue between project operators and host communities, particularly as extreme weather events become increasingly frequent.
KTDA officials indicated that beyond compensation, efforts are being made to strengthen risk mitigation measures and enhance preparedness around the hydropower infrastructure to minimise future disruptions.
For the affected families, the Sh12 million payout offers a measure of relief and an opportunity to begin rebuilding after months of uncertainty.
As communities recover, attention now shifts to ensuring that investments in critical infrastructure are matched by adequate safeguards to protect the people living alongside them.
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