A transformative multi-billion-shilling project aimed at ending Mombasa’s perennial water shortages is rapidly taking shape, promising to redefine water security and agricultural productivity in the coastal region.
The Principal Secretary for Irrigation (PS) CPA Ephantus Kimotho said during a project inspection tour accompanied by World Bank (WB) Global Water Practice Director Mr Saroj Jah, that once operational, the dam is set to significantly bridge Mombasa County’s water deficit, currently standing at a staggering 75 per cent.
The Sh20 billion project is jointly funded by the WB and the Government of Kenya under the Kenya Water Security and Climate Resilience Project (KWSCRP).
The project aims to sustainably improve water security and build climate resilience, increase bulk water supply, and increase access to water and sanitation in the Coastal Region.
The dammed water will also be used for irrigation purposes, with more than 6,000 acres of land expected to be under irrigation for food production in Kwale County.
The project is designed to have a main dam, a lower check dam, and an upper check dam. The main dam, with a height of 84 meters (m) and a crest length of 526 metres, will have a capacity of 127 million m3 of water. It will harness water flow from the Mwache River basin for domestic water supply.
The lower check dam, already 68% complete, is scheduled for completion by September 2025, while the entire project is expected to be fully operational by February 2027.
To accelerate construction, the constructor has commenced round-the-clock hauling of roller-compacted concrete, a critical phase that will continue uninterrupted for the next 18 months.
“The concreting has started and that will continue without any stop day and night. We are happy with the progress,” said PS Kimotho, reiterating the government’s commitment to ensure timely completion of the water security project.
The PS explained that the dam has a water storage capacity of 136 million cubic meters of which nine million will be dead storage.
“What will be fully utilized is 127 million cubic meters but in terms of water usage per day, the dam would be giving us 186,000 cubic litres per day, and that is what will go to Mombasa County to address the water shortage deficit,” stated the PS.
The Government has so far paid Sh2.6 billion to the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in line with the Resettlement Action Plan.
He assured the PAPs that the government would soon disburse Sh600M and the remaining balance of Sh2 billion will be cleared in the 2025-2026 financial year.
To enhance food security, the 8.6 million cubic meter lower check dam will not only help in desilting, but its water will be used for irrigation through solar pumping.
In the shade management component of the project, the PS said water pans will be constructed to plant trees and help farmers with irrigation.
Through the Farmer-Led Irrigation Development and Farmer Field Schools (FFS), 3,032 beneficiaries have been trained in good agricultural practices
“That has already started; one of the farmers who previously relied on rain-fed agriculture in a quarter acre was producing two bags of maize but now using the new component we have introduced of irrigation. The same farmer now in one season is producing seven bags,” stated the PS.
WB Global Water Practice Director Mr Saroj Jah said the project perfectly aligns with the World Bank in ending poverty through the provision of clean water. “The project will provide water storage to help provide drinking water to people living in Mombasa and Kwale counties.”
He added that the project should be a source of economic growth in the region through support of business and provision of skills to the PAPs.
“The teams have done a very good job to make sure that the resettlement process is well managed according to the WB policy. This has to be taken forward because it is not completed yet,” he stated.
“I have requested the government that every 50 days there is a high level of monitoring so that all the milestones in the projects are fully implemented,” he added.
By Sadik Hassan
