By Stella Yamumo

Garissa and Tana River flood victims have demanded compensation from the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), Following the flooding that took place in 2018. On May 15, 2018  the then Energy CS Charles Keter warned that Masinga would be filled up by rains and water would be released through spillage.

KenGen further stated that the company should not be held responsible for natural calamities.

Residents were warned to move to higher ground onto which they stated that they didn’t receive the notice in good time. More than 60,000 people were displaced, farms were destroyed and lives lost.

Kengen has remained adamant announcing that it would not compensate flood victims in Garsen Constituency for the damage incurred in 2018.

KenGen Managing Director, Rebecca Miano stated in July that the company would not provide compensation that was demanded by the residents of the constituency as the company was not to blame for the floods that displaced people. Further revealing that the Seven Fork dams are known to naturally overflow when heavy rains are experienced and the flood was purely a natural phenomenon and one that should not be blamed on the power producer.

We can confirm that KenGen has declined to compensate affected residents following the foods in 2018.

This story was produced by Stella Yamumo at Mtaani newsroom in partnership with Code for Africa’s iLAB data journalism program me, with support from Deutsche Welle Akademie’.