Outrage as County Plans to Drain Historic Dam for Bus Park

Leaders and residents of Tala Township in Machakos County have opposed a county government plan to convert the 90-year-old Tala Dam into a matatu terminus, warning that draining the reservoir would deepen water shortages in the semi-arid area and erase an important community resource.

The proposed project, under the administration of Governor Wavinya Ndeti, targets the three-acre parcel of land on which the dam sits, sparking resistance from farmers, traders, professionals, and matatu operators.

Community leaders led by Dr Charles Kyalo Kilonzo say the dam is a critical water source for hundreds of households who depend on it for domestic use and irrigation.

“We will not allow the draining of the dam.

It is a lifeline for hundreds of people who rely on the water,” Dr Kilonzo said.

Residents note that Tala Township receives minimal rainfall, making the dam essential during prolonged dry spells.

Farmers argue that beyond supplying surface water, the dam plays a key role in recharging shallow wells and boreholes across the area.

“We rely on the Tala Dam during drought because the township receives little rainfall.

It is our main water source and helps recharge shallow wells and boreholes.

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No one should be thinking of draining it,” said James Muovi, chairman of the Kwa Mating’i Farmers’ Cooperative Society.

County Plan to Relocate Bus Park

County officials say the proposal is part of a broader plan to modernise Tala Township and relocate the existing bus park from privately owned land.

Kangundo-Tala Municipality Manager Justus Kiteng’u and Tala MCA Jackson Ndaka have defended the move, saying it aims to streamline transport and spur economic growth.

According to Mr Ndaka, the project would involve draining the dam and constructing a major matatu stage to create jobs and support urban expansion.

“Until Tala Dam is flattened, Tala Township will stagnate,” Mr Ndaka said.

Traders and Operators Threaten Legal Action

However, traders and matatu operators argue that relocating the bus park to the dam site would disrupt businesses and inconvenience commuters.

They warn that passengers would be forced to walk long distances to access transport services.

“Relocating the Tala bus park will inconvenience traders and travellers.

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Passengers will be forced to walk long distances to the proposed Tala Dam terminus, exposing them to security risks,” said Priscillar Kioko, a Tala-based lawyer.

By midweek, opponents of the plan had collected more than 800 signatures in preparation for possible legal action against the county government.

Pollution and Neglect at the Centre of Debate

While county officials point to pollution as justification for draining the dam, residents argue that contamination is a result of neglect rather than a reason for demolition.

Over the past three years, raw effluent and solid waste have reportedly been discharged into the reservoir.

“The dam was once a source of clean water and fish, but it has become an environmental eyesore,” said resident Charles Kyalo.

Mr Kiteng’u acknowledged the pollution, saying water samples had been taken by the Water Resources Authority (WRA).

“In its current state, Tala Dam is a cesspool.

We know some people discharge raw sewage into it.

WRA officials have taken water samples for testing, and the results will be made public,” he said.

Calls for Rehabilitation, Not Destruction

Businessman Bernard Kilongosi, whose grandfather donated the land for the dam, urged the county to respect the community’s history and rehabilitate the reservoir instead of draining it.

“Today, I have to take my grandchildren to hotel swimming pools, where a session costs Sh500.

It is painful,” Mr Kilongosi said, recalling how the dam once served as a recreational and water resource.

Former Machakos County Public Service Board chairman Kioko Luka also called for a comprehensive urban master plan.

“We need a bus park and a proper open-air market, but the county should consider compulsory acquisition of undeveloped land around the township instead of destroying a vital water resource,” he said.

As public participation forums stall and opposition grows, the future of Tala Dam remains uncertain, with residents insisting that development should not come at the cost of water security and environmental heritage.

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