Treasury, AfdB edge closer to securing key financing deal for Thwake Dam

Wote, Makueni, Friday, June 20, 2025

The National Treasury and the African Development Bank (AfDB) are edging closer to securing a key financial agreement that will see additional financing close to Sh9.6 billion critical for completion of Thwake Multipurpose Water Development Program Phase 1.
During a high-level site inspection tour by the top officials from the Bank, the National Treasury and the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, it was revealed that Treasury has already received the proposal from the Ministry and has already initiated conversation with the top African lender.
“We are considering additional financing for this first phase. From here we will finalize the documentation required to ensure all the key requirements are in place so that we can present to the Board of the African Development Bank hopefully in the coming weeks for their consideration for approval,” said Mtchera Chirwa, the Director, Water and Sanitation Department at the AfDB and the leader of the delegation. He was accompanied by colleagues including Mecuria Assefaw, Regional Sector Manager, Lazarus Phiri, Principal Water and Sanitation Engineer and Nancy Ogal, Senior Water and Sanitation Officer and the Thwake Program Task Manager at the Bank.
While noting that the delegation’s objective was also to see physically the progress and discuss the requirements to ensure the project is completed, he emphasized that “we will not be able to realize the benefits until the first phase is completed.”
He reaffirmed Bank’s commitment noting that the lender is a key partner of the Kenyan Government thus Thwake is a major priority because of its impact in improving livelihoods. 
Speaking during the tour, Water Secretary Eng. Samuel A.O Alima, identified three key remaining areas critical for the dam’s completion, like the bridge over the embankment, concrete face and fixing the hydromechanical equipment. 
“Once we have done the concrete face, we plan to start impounding water during the long rainy season from April-June next year,” said Alima of the project that has hit 94.2 per cent physical progress.

Alima noted that significant impediments that hit the project’s timelines included weak foundation, a nine-months lull as the embankment was settling, Covid 19 and Ukraine-Russian conflict which affected production of explosives.
He added that plans are already at advanced level for downstream works including water supply, irrigation and production of up to 20MW of power. 
The AfDB Focal Point at the National Treasury Michael Kahiti, reiterated that Thwake Multipurpose Water Development Program is a high priority project for the government. 
“National Treasury’s vision for this project is that the community around this area gets water and partake of socio-economic upliftment through irrigation and other activities. National Treasury will cooperate and support the borrower in all aspects,” he said during the tour also attended by the Contractor (CGGC), the Supervising Consultant (SMEC) and a team from the ministry.