Kwale:The government has committed to speeding up the completion of major dam projects across the nation to bolster its water and food security initiatives. During a visit to the Sh45 billion Mwache Multipurpose Dam project in Kwale County, Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Eng. Eric Mugaa, confirmed the ongoing progress of these strategic projects.
According to Kenya News Agency, Eng. Mugaa highlighted that projects such as the Mwache Multipurpose Dam and the Sh37 billion Thwake Dam, located at the border of Makueni and Kitui counties along the Athi River, are advancing steadily. Despite facing challenges related to funding and resettlement, construction is actively progressing with state agencies working to ensure timely completion.
The coastal region is currently experiencing a significant water shortage, with a daily deficit of 327,000 cubic meters. The Mwache Dam is expected to address this issue by supplying approximately 186 million liters of treated water daily to Kwale and Mombasa counties once completed. The dam is also designed to support irrigation and tourism, aiming to bolster the local economy and enhance climate resilience.
Eng. Mugaa noted that the Thwake Multipurpose Water Development Program is nearing completion at approximately 94 to 96 percent, while the Mwache Dam has surpassed 90 percent completion. He emphasized the importance of these projects in advancing the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which focuses on strengthening water security and driving economic growth.
The Mwache Dam, which is set to store up to 136 billion liters of water, is being constructed using advanced Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) technology. This method allows for rapid construction, aiming for the dam’s impoundment by October 2026. Eng. Mugaa described the dam as an engineering marvel and the only RCC dam project in East Africa.
Eng. Mugaa is conducting nationwide inspections of water-related projects to identify areas needing urgent intervention. These inspections aim to ensure that both infrastructure and community development goals are met to provide sustainable water security and improved public services. Principal Secretary Julius Korir added that the Mwache project is vital for irrigation development, flood control, and enhancing the socio-economic wellbeing of the Coast region.
