Investors urged to gear up for opportunities as Thwake Dam project takes shape
Wote, Makueni, Wednesday, March 9, 2022
The State and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have urged investors to be ready for strategic opportunities poised to be brought after the completion of the multi-billion shilling Thwake Multipurpose Dam currently under construction.
Speaking during a high-level delegation tour from the bank led by the AfDB Director General, East Africa Operations Nnenna Nwabufo, the Water Secretary, Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Eng. Samuel Alima said once there will be proper sewerage connection in Wote town, environs and water supply to Konza Techno City, millions of investors will have opportunities.
“Wote town and environs currently do not have sewerage connection hence the need to give dignity to our people and investors. Since 150,000 cubic meters of water per day will be pumped from this dam daily, one of the key beneficiaries will be Konza Techno City which is our Silicon Savannah. We encourage investors to be ready to set industries and create jobs and wealth for our youth in these areas,” said Eng Alima who is also the Project Engineer.
Ms. Nwabufo noted that the project, currently on its first phase and at 68 per cent, will be a game-changer urging all the parties concerned to work with synergy ensuring the June 2022 target of completion for phase 1 is achieved.
“This is an important legacy project for the country. It will be second largest dam in Kenya with critical components like water supply system to treat and distribute up to 150,000 cubic metres of treated water per day to 1.3 million of rural inhabitants of Kitui, Makueni and Machakos counties and inhabitants of Konza City and its environs, hydropower generation of 20MW and irrigation works for up to 40,075 hectares of land in Kitui and Makueni counties (approximately 100,000 acres of land),” she stated.
On the bank’s assurance and commitment, she exuded confidence that the continental facility will fully support the State to ensure the project moves within set timelines up to completion.
“The Bank remains committed to support the government. Whatever depends on us, we will do. This is one of the key legacy projects by the government”
The delegation also noted that a Government multi-sectoral (inter-agency) committee drawn from a number of players and institutions is in place to spearhead catchment protection and pollution control activities on River Athi. The team is mandated to generate possible action lines that will be implemented to control pollution problems in Nairobi Basin Rivers which feed into the Thwake Dam.
“As a bank we are fully supporting the cleaning of River Athi and Nairobi river pollution control. We are working with the government to address that concern. We will carefully evaluate the level of pollution control because the government is investing much money, hence pollution must be brought under control and arrested,” she said.
She was accompanied by AfDB Deputy Director General Dr. Abdul Kamara, AfDB Task Manager for Thwake Multipurpose Dam Project Mr. Christopher Mutasa and Alex Boakye, a consultant for the bank.
Earlier on, the delegation paid a courtesy call on the Makueni County Commissioner Mr. Gilbert Kitiyo who said that Thwake Multipurpose Dam Project is a legacy facility which must be supported to its fruition. Mr Kitiyo also accompanied the delegation during the tour.
Also in attendance was Program Coordinator, Program Implementation Team Eng. David Onyango, officers from the Contractor and the project Consultant among others.
Ends