Counties Forest agency backs out of land deal for dams projectSite of the planned Kimwarer multi-purpose dam in Elgeyo Marakwet County. FILE PHOTO | NMGThe Kenya Forest Service (KFS) will not surrender 400 hectares of forest land, dealing a major blow to the implementation of the controversy-riddled Sh63 billion multi-purpose dams in Elgeyo Marakwet County. The State agency pulled out of the land exchange programme for the Arror and Kimwarer dams multipurpose project after it was hit by corruption claims that are now under investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). KFS was to surrender 400 hectares of forest land in exchange for 570 hectares from private land surrendered by displaced communities. Private landAccording to KVDA Managing Director David Kimosop, 400 hectares of forest land was to be acquired from KFS in exchange for 570 hectares private land from communities displaced by the project.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 13, 2019 18:56 UTC