Umaa dam to boost water supply for Kitui residents

Residents of Kitui Town and surrounding communities are expected to benefit from improved water supply through the Umaa Dam Water Supply Project, an infrastructure investment designed to strengthen water security and reduce the area’s vulnerability to prolonged drought.

The project, being implemented by the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority (NWHSA), has a storage capacity of 1.2 billion litres and is designed to deliver approximately 2.65 million litres of water daily once completed.

It is expected to serve approximately 75,000 people, providing a more reliable source of water for domestic consumption while supporting economic activities in Kitui County.

Located along River Nzeu, the dam is among the strategic water infrastructure projects intended to improve water availability in Kenya’s semi-arid regions, where unreliable rainfall and prolonged dry periods frequently affect households, livestock production and agriculture.

Beyond improving domestic water supply, the project is expected to support irrigation and livestock watering, helping communities maintain their livelihoods during periods of water scarcity.

The dam’s development has, however, faced significant delays since construction began in 2009. The project stalled for more than a decade following a contractual dispute between the original contractor and the implementing authority.

The dispute eventually went through arbitration, leading to the termination of the initial contract and the appointment of a new contractor to resume construction.

In November 2024, Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa inspected the project and reported that implementation had reached 73.4 per cent. At the time, he said the government was committed to ensuring continuous funding to prevent further interruptions.

The works were subsequently taken over by China Jiangxi International under a revised contract valued at approximately KSh1.9 billion. The contractor was expected to complete the remaining works under the revised implementation schedule.

Mugaa also called on the authority to undertake tree planting within the dam’s catchment area to support environmental conservation and protect the water source.

The need to protect the catchment is important for the long-term sustainability of the project, particularly given the area’s dependence on rainfall and seasonal river flows. Maintaining the surrounding environment will help support water availability and improve the resilience of the storage infrastructure.

The project is part of the government’s wider water harvesting and storage programme, which seeks to increase the country’s capacity to capture and retain water for domestic consumption, agriculture and other economic activities.

The authority is also pursuing additional dams, water pans, boreholes and flood-control structures to improve water security across the country.

Once completed and connected to an effective distribution system, Umaa Dam is expected to strengthen Kitui’s water supply, support agricultural activities and create opportunities for businesses that depend on reliable water availability.

For surrounding communities, the investment represents an opportunity to improve household water security, strengthen livelihoods and reduce the effects of recurring droughts in the county.