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Treasury, AfDB to secure funds to complete Thwake dam

The National Treasury and the African Development Bank (AfDB) are on the verge of finalizing an agreement for an additional funding of Sh 9.6 billion to complete phase 1 of Thwake Multi-Purpose Dam at the confluence of Athi and Thwake Rivers at the border of Makueni and Kitui Counties.

The dam is going to be a game changer in the Lower Eastern Region where over 1.2 million people will benefit besides providing water to Konza City after its completion.

The revelations were made on Friday during a high-level inspection tour of the Dam by top officials from the National Treasury, AfDB, and the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation where they renewed their commitment to the critical infrastructure initiative.

“We are considering additional financing for the first phase. We aim to finalize documentation in the coming weeks to present to the AfDB Board for approval and ensure the project’s benefits to the people are fully realized upon completion,” said the Director of the AfDB Water and Sanitation Department Mtchera Chirwa during the tour of the dam.

Consequently, Chirwa stated that Thwake Dam stands as a testament to Kenya’s ambition to harness resources for sustainable development offering hope for a brighter, more prosperous future for thousands of residents poised to benefit from the program in Lower Eastern Region.

“Thwake Dam is more than a dam; it’s life line for Makueni, Kitui and surrounding areas, promising improved water security, agricultural productivity and clean energy. With AfDB’s financing and the government’s resolve, the project is poised to deliver transformative change,” he noted.

Thwake Dam, now at 94.2 percent of physical completion, is the one of the bases of Kenya’s development agenda.

On his part, Michael Kahiti, the AfDB Focal Point at the National Treasury, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the project saying it will play a key role in socio-economic uplifting in the area.

“The National Treasury’s vision is to ensure the community around Thwake Dam benefits from water access and economic opportunities through irrigation and other activities,” stated Kahiti.

Speaking at the same event, the Water Secretary Eng. Samuel Alima said that three critical tasks remaining include constructing a bridge over the embankment, completing the concrete fence and installing hydro mechanical equipment.

“Once the concrete fence is done, we plan to start impounding water during the long rainy season from April to June next year,” Alima revealed.

“This milestone will mark a significant step toward providing water for domestic use, irrigation, and generating up to 20MW of hydropower, unlocking economic opportunities for local communities,” he added.

The project has faced significant challenges, including a weak foundation, a nine-month delay as the embankment settled, disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, and supply chain issues stemming from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which impacted explosive production.

Despite these hurdles, Alima noted that plans for downstream works—such as water supply systems, irrigation networks, and power generation—are at an advanced stage, promising long-term benefits for the region.

The tour, attended by representatives from the contractor (CGGC), supervising consultant (SMEC), and the Water Ministry, highlighted a collaborative effort to bring the project to fruition.

Present during the tour were AfDB Regional Sector Manager Mecuria Assefaw, Principal Water and Sanitation Engineer Lazarus Phiri and Nancy Ogal Senior Water and Sanitation and Take Task Manager.

By Patrick Nyakundi

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