Mombasa: The multi-billion-shilling Mwache Multipurpose Dam Project is nearing completion, with construction now at 83 per cent, but delayed payments to the contractor and unresolved compensation claims for the Project Affected Persons (PAPs), threaten to slow progress.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Sh20 billion project, expected to significantly reduce Mombasa County’s chronic water shortage, is now projected for completion in August 2026, six months ahead of the original February 2027 deadline. However, construction works by Sinohydro Corporation Limited have reportedly slowed due to unpaid certificates amounting to Sh1.9 billion.
The delays now risk derailing the timely delivery of the transformative project, which is expected to bridge Mombasa County’s water deficit, currently estimated at 75 per cent. The project is jointly funded by the World Bank and the Government of Kenya under the Kenya Water Security and Climate Resilience Project (KWSCRP). It aims to sustainably improve water security, strengthen climate resilience, increase bulk water supply, and expand access to water and sanitation services across the Coastal region.
Part of the dammed water will also support irrigation, with more than 6,000 acres expected to be put under food production in Kwale County. The project comprises a main dam, a lower check dam, and an upper check dam. The main dam, standing 84 meters high with a crest length of 526 meters, will have a storage capacity of 127 million cubic meters of water. It is designed to harness water from the Mwache River Basin for the domestic water supply.
Members of the National Assembly Committee on Water, Irrigation and Blue Economy, during an inspection tour of the project, cautioned that delays in the release of funds by the National Treasury could affect completion of the Water Treatment Plant and installation of distribution pipelines. Committee Chairman, Kangogo Bowen, said that despite the progress, the project could stall if pending payments are not settled. “Working with the Treasury, we will provide the resources required to make sure this project doesn’t stop. As it is, we are told there are close to Sh1.9 billion in unpaid certificates,” said Bowen.
He assured the contractor that the project had been allocated Sh5.8 billion in the 2026/2027 Financial Year to support completion. “We want to plead with the contractor to continue working as we work with the Treasury to make sure that we avail those resources,” stated Bowen, while urging the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury to visit the site and appreciate the ongoing works.
Bowen described the project as a game-changer for the Coast region, saying it will supply about 186,000 cubic meters of water daily to Mombasa and Kwale counties. “It is a project that is also going to help the local communities around here in terms of employment and a source of livelihood,” he said. The Chairman also assured residents that surrounding communities would be prioritized in water distribution before supply is extended to other areas.
The Committee commended the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation for the progress made so far, while urging it to fast-track the installation of water pipelines to ensure the project becomes fully operational upon completion. Matuga legislator, Kassim Tandaza, called on the National Land Commission to expedite compensation for PAPs and provide start-up capital for affected businesses, as earlier promised.
The MP further insisted that Kwale residents should benefit first from the water project before the supply is extended to Mombasa County. On her part Kisumu West Member of Parliament (MP), Rosa Buyu, said the project demonstrates what can be achieved through political goodwill. “I appeal to the government on behalf of the Committee to also pay attention to the Koru Soin Dam. That is a Dam that will address the issue of flooding, irrigation and offer hydro-power to the people in almost six counties covering the Rift Valley, Kisumu and other Nyanza counties,” said Buyu.
