The Coast Development Authority (CDA) has commissioned the newly rehabilitated Mwache Dam in Mwanda, Taita Taveta County, a Sh20 million project completed four months ahead of schedule that is set to transform water access for more than 300 households.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Mzee Mwinyi Mzee, CDA Board Chairman, expressed gratitude to President William Ruto for supporting the organisation with funding. He also thanked the Ministry of ASALs and Regional Development, led by Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Askul and Principal Secretary Kello Harsama.
“We were here four months ago to launch this project, and today we are with the citizens to commission it and hand it over to them. We thank H.E. Dr William Samoei Ruto for standing with our organisation and availing funds,” Mzee Mwinyi stated.
He acknowledged the board’s leadership, the contractor’s efficiency, and residents’ cooperation in ensuring timely project completion.
The Chairman noted that while three water kiosks have been constructed, the dam provides continuous water flow daily. However, he agreed that additional funding is needed to expand access downstream and implement similar projects in Mwanda to enhance food security and address water scarcity in line with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
CDA Acting Managing Director Dr Mwana Siti Bendera said the Sh20 million government-funded de-siltation project has increased the dam’s capacity to 10,000 cubic metres.
“Today we are here in Mwanda to commission Mwalashi dam, which has been filled with soil and debris. As CDA, we have been funded by the government to undertake de-siltation to enhance the dam’s capacity,” Dr Bendera stated.
She added that the water will serve multiple purposes, including household use, animal watering, irrigation, and supplying neighbouring schools and government offices.
Dr Bendera lauded the contractor, engineers, and supervisors for completing the project ahead of the June 2026 deadline, noting that the work was finished in under four months.
“This project was to take a long period and be completed by June 2026. However, the contractor, engineers, and supervisors have done a great job, completing it in under four months. We are grateful for the support from the government, our board, our MP, and the citizens,” she said.
Wundanyi MP Daniel Mwashako commended CDA for its work and pledged continued support from the Coast Parliamentary Group.
“When there was a change of policy proposing that some authorities should be done away with, and CDA was among them, we made noise to ensure they remained. I want to assure them that as Coast leaders, MPs, Senators, and Women Representatives, we shall do all we can to defend them because we can see the fruits of their work,” Mwashako said.
The MP called on the government to increase CDA’s funding to undertake similar projects across the region, emphasising the Authority’s critical role in regional development.
Mwashako also advocated for the inclusion of residents from Njavuli sub-location, who host the dam but currently lack direct access to the water. He proposed using solar heaters and generators to pump water to additional households.
“In the next financial year, we should ensure that we seek funding so that water also reaches the residents of Njavuli,” he said.
He revealed that the project currently benefits more than 300 households, with plans to expand coverage to between 600 and 800 additional households once more funding is secured.
The MP urged CDA to conduct a feasibility study to determine the costs and technical requirements for extending the water supply to Njavuli sub-location and as far as Marungu.
By Sitati Reagan
