The government is keen on ensuring the 80.5-metre-high Thwake Multipurpose Dam is finalised by February 6, 2024.
Water Secretary Eng Samuel Alima, speaking Friday at the confluence of River Athi and Thwake in Makueni County, said the government was closely monitoring and fast-tracking the construction of the dam to enhance food security in the lower Eastern region.
So far there is good progress; currently we are at 84.4 percent completion and we are determined to meet the deadline,” noted Alima while addressing the media during a monitoring progress tour at the site.
The Water Secretary went on to say,” We are closely monitoring these project and every month we hold a physical meeting at the site and on Thursdays we also have online meetings to check what has been achieved in ensuring the dam is completed on time.”
Consequently, the government has instructed the contractor, China Ghezoubha Group of Companies (CCCG), to deliver the dam as scheduled.
We have instructed the contractor to ensure that the dam is completed on time,” reiterated Alima.
However, the Water Secretary decried the challenging task of filling some 11 million cubic metres of materials to ensure massive embankment of the upcoming dam, where it will take about 3 months to fill rocks and large stones and a further two months to settle.
This is a concrete phased dam and the embankment is massive; 11 million cubic metres of materials being put there up to the top and they have to be given two months to settle and put the concrete phase,” he said.
The dam is now filled with 8 million cubic metres of rocks and large stones and the remaining 3 million cubic metres of material will be completed by November 2023.
During the tour, Alima was accompanied by the project implementation team led by Eng. David Onyango, SMEC consultants led by Nicholas Rowse and contract manager Li Shan.
Upon completion, the water will be treated and distributed up to 150,000 cubic metres of water per day to 1.3 million rural inhabitants of Kitui, Makueni and Machakos counties, as well as inhabitants of Konza City and its environs.
Meanwhile, after completion of the wall in February next year, phase two of the construction of hydropower generation will begin and thereafter, about 100,000 hectares of land will be irrigated in the locality, besides provision of clean water for domestic use.
By Patrick Nyakundi and Ronald Rono
