Residents of Tala addressing the Media on January 20, 2026. Photo by Andrew Mbuva. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Residents of Tala town have mounted strong opposition to a county proposal to flatten the historic Tala Dam and convert the site into a bus park, warning that the move would destroy a vital community resource that has sustained generations.
Led by elders and local leaders, the residents accuse the area Member of County Assembly (MCA) of pushing the plan without proper consultation, arguing that the dam is the community’s only reliable source of water for domestic use, livestock, laundry and construction.
Speaking on behalf of the community, 70-year-old resident Dr. Charles Kilonzo described the dam as the “source of our life,” noting that it was constructed more than 90 years ago through communal effort under the leadership of the famed paramount chief Uku wa Mukima.
“This dam was built manually by more than 500 people over five years. There were no tractors then,” said Dr. Kilonzo. “It covers about three acres, comparable to Maruba Dam in Machakos, and has the capacity to sustain Tala town. To destroy it for a bus stop is to erase the sweat and sacrifice of our forefathers.”
Dr. Kilonzo estimated that reconstructing such a dam today would cost upwards of Sh500 million, while filling the existing reservoir—about 40 feet deep—would alone cost more than Sh200 million. He argued that the funds would be better spent acquiring alternative land for a bus park and investing in infrastructure to protect and rehabilitate the dam.
“That money is enough to buy land elsewhere and even construct drainage canals around the dam so that wastewater bypasses it,” he said. “For us as a community, filling this dam is a complete no. We will not accept it.”
Another resident, Sila Mutiso, who said he formally moved a motion opposing the plan, acknowledged that the dam has faced serious challenges in recent years, including pollution.
“Since around 2020, some people have been discharging raw sewage into this dam,” Mutiso said. “Yet this water is still used for domestic purposes, for cattle and for laundry. What we are asking the government to do is simple: clean the dam, not drain it.”
Mutiso further questioned the legality of the proposed public participation process, claiming that the MCA lacks the mandate to convene such forums. According to him, residents were informed that the dam would be drained to pave way for a matatu stage, a move he says was never agreed upon by the community.
“We are opposed to draining or flattening this dam. It should be cleaned and preserved for use by the community, especially for animals,” he said.
Residents also raised concerns over poor waste management in Tala, particularly at the local cattle market. They accused county officials of dumping garbage at the market, worsening sanitation despite traders paying taxes and levies.
“Our market is very dirty. Garbage is being dumped here by the county itself,” Mutiso added. “We are requesting the county government to find a proper dumping site and come and see what else can be done to improve sanitation.”
As opposition grows, Tala residents are calling on the county government to halt any plans to interfere with the dam and instead prioritize its rehabilitation. They insist that any development must balance urban planning needs with the preservation of critical community resources and the history attached to them.
For now, the message from Tala is clear: the dam stays.
