BY SAM ALFAN.
The government had allocated a total of 570 Hectares of land for the construction of Artor and Kimwaerer multi-purpose dams in Elgeyo-Marakwet county.
Gideon Rotich, a witness in the trial told chief magistrate Lawrence Mugambi that there was an issue with part of the land which is a government forest
The former employee of the National Environment Management Authority(NEMA) told the trial court that the environmental impact assessment was done by Elijah Ndiema and dispatched to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Ministry of Water and Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA)
However, KFS took issue with the construction of the dams citing destruction of the forest and halted the commencement of the project.
The witness further testified that KFS, did change it’s position in 2018 and gave provisional conditions to KVDA.
The condition included a reforestation programme at the surrounding area.
He said that KVDA was commissioned to ensure resettlement of the locals subsequent to compensation.
The court heard that KVDA was also to ensure compliance of both conditions set by KFS and NEMA.
The witness was giving evidence in the Sh63 billion graft case against former Finance Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich and nine others.
The accused have engaged defence lawyers senior counsel Kioko Kilukumi, Phillip Nyachoti, Katwan Kigen among others.
The case will proceed for further hearing on December 5, 2022.
