Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has confirmed that the Ksh82 billion Thwake Dam project, located in Makueni and Kitui counties, is nearing completion. The multipurpose infrastructure is set to benefit millions of Kenyans by enhancing water security, supporting agriculture, and generating clean energy.
The Thwake Dam project has faced repeated delays over the years due to financial constraints and operational challenges. Five different Water Cabinet Secretaries have overseen the project, each promising timely completion. During a site visit in October 2024, Water CS Eric Mugaa, the fifth to supervise the project, noted that the critical embankment phase would take six months, paving the way for the project’s final stages. This announcement followed a two-month halt in construction due to funding delays reported by the main contractor.
The government has been working closely with the African Development Bank, which is funding the project, to ensure timely release of finances. In October 2023, the dam was reported to be 84.4% complete, with over Ksh22 billion already invested in the first phase. Despite this progress, the project faced hurdles, including cash flow problems, theft of construction equipment, and occasional work stoppages due to delayed payments to workers.
Once completed, Thwake Dam is expected to provide safe drinking water, irrigate over 40,000 hectares of farmland, and generate 20MW of hydropower. With a reservoir capacity of 688 million cubic meters, it is Kenya’s second-largest dam after Masinga. The dam is a rock-fill structure with an impervious concrete face, standing approximately 80.5 meters tall.
The completion of Thwake Dam marks a major milestone in Kenya’s infrastructure development. It promises to improve the livelihoods of communities in Makueni and Kitui, boost agricultural productivity, and support sustainable energy generation. As the project nears its final stages, it underscores Kenya’s commitment to modernizing water management and harnessing natural resources for national development.
