The Government is committed to fast tracking the construction of Koru-Soin Dam, on the border of Kisumu and Kericho counties, to tame the perennial flooding in Nyando Sub- County in Kisumu.
Government Spokesperson, Dr. Isaack Mwaura, said the Dam is among 100 similar projects that the government has lined-up to be done through Public Private Partnership (PPP).
Dr. Mwaura added that the process was ongoing to ensure that the projects takes- off, revealing that so far, the government has secured partnerships for other 34 dams, saying the National Treasury was in the process of finalizing the documentation, while sourcing for additional investors to take up the remaining 66 dams.
“The government advertised for these projects and so far we managed to secure 34 partnerships. We are calling on potential investors to take up the remaining 66 Koru-Soin dam included, ” he said.
Mwaura said Koru-Soin dam which was designed to contain water from upstream River Nyando, was critical in addressing persistent flooding in Nyando plains, reiterating the government’s commitment to complete the project which has stalled.
On 11th May 2022, the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority (NWHSA) awarded the tender for the construction of the dam to China Jiangxi International Limited and China Jianxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Company Limited.
Through the arrangement, the project was supposed to be fully funded by the government at a cost of Sh. 19.9 billion, with the contractors given 60 months to complete and hand over the facility.
Works done so far includes a campsite being constructed and confirmatory geotechnical investigation carried out.
However, the contractor who had been paid Sh. 499.6 million suspended operations at the site in September last year, citing lack of payment.
The contractor was demanding Sh. 846.5 million from the government, before resuming works.
Speaking at Nduru Primary School in Kadibo Sub- County, where he led other agencies in distribution of non-food items to floods victims, Mwaura said the original plan to have the dam fully funded by the government was not feasible, insisting that the government will pursue Public Private Partnership, to complete the project.
With a storage of 93.7 million cubic metres, the dam once completed will supply 72,000m3 per day of water for domestic use, irrigation of 2,570 hectares of land and generation of 2.5 megawatts of hydropower.
Flow of water in River Nyando, which is behind the perennial flooding in Kano plains will be regulated throughout the year.
Other benefits include the supply of potable water, to meet the deficit in parts of Kisumu and Kericho counties.
National Assembly Minority Leader, Opiyo Wandayi, however, cautioned against the government’s decision to change the financing model for the project, saying it was likely to delay its implementation as floods continue to wreak havoc in the area.
In an interview with KNA, Wandayi said the National government diverted funds meant for the project, whose implementation has been pending for decades.
“In the 9th Parliament, we allocated funds to this project which is fully funded by the government to a tune of Sh.19.9 billion. However, when this government took over in 2022 September, the funds were diverted,” he said.
With over 40,000 people displaced by floods in Kisumu, legislators from the region, he said will push for the reallocation of the funds, to ensure the project is completed as scheduled.
“These people are tax payers like other Kenyans and they must get services regardless of which government is in power,” he said.
By Chris Mahandara
