Government drives final push on major dams

The government has stepped up efforts to fast-track the completion of major dam projects across the country as it seeks to address water shortages, improve food production and strengthen resilience to climate change.

Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Eng. Eric Mugaa said the government was putting measures in place to ensure that strategic multipurpose dams are completed on time and begin delivering their intended benefits to communities.

Speaking during an inspection tour of the Sh45 billion Mwache Multipurpose Dam in Kwale County, Mugaa said the government was closely monitoring the progress of major water infrastructure projects, including Mwache and the Sh37 billion Thwake Multipurpose Dam situated along the Athi River between Makueni and Kitui counties.

The CS said the two projects were advancing at different stages, with construction activities continuing as government agencies work to address challenges that have affected implementation, including funding and resettlement issues.

Mugaa said the government’s focus on completing large-scale water projects is driven by the need to improve the distribution of water resources across the country at a time when communities are facing the effects of unreliable rainfall and declining water levels in reservoirs.

The need is particularly significant in the Coast region, where water demand currently stands at about 512,000 cubic metres per day, compared with an available supply of only 185,000 cubic metres. This leaves the region with a daily shortfall of approximately 327,000 cubic metres.

Mugaa, who was accompanied by Principal Secretary for Water Julius Korir and Water Secretary Eng. Samwel Alima, said the Thwake Multipurpose Water Development Programme had attained between 94 and 96 per cent completion, while construction of the Mwache Dam had surpassed the 90 per cent mark.

He described the two projects as important components of the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), noting that their completion would contribute to water security, employment creation, economic development and climate resilience.

For the Coast region, the Mwache project is expected to significantly transform the availability of water for households, industries and institutions in Mombasa and Kwale counties. The project is being implemented through the Coast Region Water Security and Climate Resilience Project.

Once operational, the dam is expected to provide a major source of bulk water while also supporting irrigation and other economic activities. It has a storage capacity of up to 136 billion litres and is designed to provide approximately 186 million litres of treated water every day.

The project is also expected to generate employment and support sectors such as irrigation and tourism, while helping communities cope with climate-related pressures.

Mugaa said construction of the 84-metre-high roller-compacted concrete dam was advancing rapidly, with the use of RCC technology enabling faster construction. The method involves placing zero-slump concrete and compacting it using heavy vibratory rollers.

According to the CS, the technology has enabled significant progress on the structure ahead of the planned October 2026 impoundment.

He described Mwache as an important engineering undertaking and noted that it is currently the only Roller Compacted Concrete dam project in East Africa.

The dam is designed to capture flood flows from the Mwache River Basin for domestic water supply and irrigation in Mombasa and Kwale. It will also contribute to efforts to strengthen the region’s ability to cope with changing weather and climatic conditions.

Mugaa said the inspection of Mwache formed part of wider nationwide tours that will cover dams, irrigation schemes, water supply and sanitation projects. The inspections are intended to establish the status of major projects and identify areas requiring urgent government intervention.

Particular attention will be given to multipurpose dams that remain incomplete as well as existing projects facing challenges such as siltation.

Principal Secretary Julius Korir said the inspection was important in assessing the preparedness of the Mwache project and ensuring that both the main dam infrastructure and community development initiatives remain on schedule.

Korir noted that the project is expected to play a major role in improving water security, supporting irrigation development and strengthening flood-control measures in the Coast region.

He added that the investment would contribute to sustainable water supply while improving the livelihoods and socio-economic wellbeing of communities in Mombasa, Kwale and the wider coastal region.

The government’s continued inspection and monitoring of major water projects is expected to support faster implementation and ensure that completed infrastructure contributes directly to improved water access, food security, economic growth and climate resilience.