Kenya's southeastern county of Makueni is on the brink of a significant transformation with the near completion of the Thwake Multipurpose Dam. Slated for commissioning later this year, the dam is poised to bring about sweeping socioeconomic changes across the region, according to a senior government official.
Zachariah Njeru, the cabinet secretary of the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, highlighted the dam's pivotal role in enhancing water supply, expanding irrigation capabilities, and boosting hydropower generation in an area often beset by drought.
\"This multipurpose dam will be a game changer in this region. We are going to sort out the issue of food insecurity and water for both domestic and livestock. We will also have that component of power,\" Njeru remarked during his inspection tour of the facility.
During the tour, Secretary Njeru observed the completion of the dam's embankment fill, with subsequent phases to include the construction of a bridge and the installation of gates. The Thwake Multipurpose Dam, constructed by China Gezhouba Group Company (CGGC), began in March 2018, co-financed by the Kenyan government and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Designed as a flagship project under Kenya's Vision 2030, the dam will be developed in four phases: installation of the embankment, establishment of water supply infrastructure, generation of hydropower, and expansion of irrigation systems. Upon completion, the dam will supply nearly 150,000 cubic meters of treated water daily to 1.3 million residents in the lower eastern region and enable the irrigation of 100,000 acres of land.
Furthermore, the project is expected to generate 20 megawatts of hydroelectric power, reinforcing Kenya's pursuit of energy security—a cornerstone for industrial growth. Njeru emphasized that the dam project exemplifies the strength of Kenya-China cooperation in infrastructure development, aligning with the broader Belt and Road Initiative.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
