Kipsigis Council of Elders has put to task National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation and Rift Valley Water Service Board over the proposed sh. 34 billion Itare Water Dam.

In an eight hour meeting which was held in a Kericho hotel, the elders demanded an explanation from National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation on grounds that the project will result in drying up of about seven main rivers in the South Rift region.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation chairman Dr. Julius Kones and Myoot Kipsigis Council of Elders chairman Bishop Paul Leleito said that they agreed to have a wider consultation with all the leaders from Kericho, Bomet and Nakuru Counties in three or four weeks time to deliberate on the matter.

Kones said that they also explained to the elders on the proposed Bosta, Londiani, Soin/Koru water projects in the South Rift region.

The Kipsigis Council of Elders had threatened to file an injunction at the court to stop the sh. 34 billion Itare Water Supply Project at Ndoinet area in Mau forest.

They had pointed out that diversion of water from Ndoinet water catchment area to Nakuru and Baringo counties will lead to drying up of rivers in Kericho and Bomet Counties.

They had claimed that Ndoinet water catchment in Mau forest supplies seven rivers in South Rift and diversion of water will paralyze Kericho, Litein and Bomet Water supply including Sondu Miriu Hydro electric Power Project as well as endangering the wildlife in Maasai Mara.

They also claimed that Nakuru County had another alternative of drawing water from the rivers feeding lake Naivasha which originates from Aberdares, adding that the government seems to have chosen to protect the lake and sacrifice it with Lake Victoria.

They had added that the water diversion will affect lake Victoria and river Nile, adding that they might also involve the governments of Sudan, South Sudan and Egypt as they also benefit from the affected water.

They also claimed that there was no public participation and consultation as per the constitution on the project which is expected to serve over 800,000 people and the process was done with secrecy.