Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation CS Eric Muuga has defended the stalled construction of the Ksh82 billion Thwake Multi-Purpose Dam, citing the ongoing war in Ukraine as a key factor affecting progress.
Appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, CS Mugaa explained that the war had disrupted the global supply chain, making it difficult to access crucial materials needed for the project. Specifically, he pointed out that the explosives required to blast the foundation rocks at the dam’s construction site were unavailable due to the conflict.
The Thwake Multi-Purpose Dam, located at the confluence of Thwake and Athi rivers on the Kitui-Makueni counties border, is expected to serve Makueni, Machakos, and Kitui counties. The project has faced multiple delays, with residents and leaders raising concerns about its prolonged completion timeline.
In his defence, Mugaa emphasized that Kenya, being part of the global economy, was not immune to disruptions caused by international conflicts. He reiterated that supply shortages had slowed progress on the dam’s construction.
“The dam will serve Makueni, Machakos, and Kitui counties. During the war, explosives required to blast the foundations of these rock beds were not accessible, slowing progress. It’s a global market. The Ukraine war affected global economies; even Kenya is part of that global economy,” Mugaa stated.
Settlement
The government has faced pressure to fast-track the dam’s completion, which is expected to provide water for domestic, industrial, and irrigation use in the three counties.
In October 2024, the youthful CS assured Kenyans that the State has engaged key stakeholders, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), to fast-track funding for the completion of the multipurpose dam.
During a tour of the multi-billion dam, which, according to the CS, will benefit 1.3 million residents in Makueni, Kitui, and parts of Machakos, he pledged to expedite the processing of pending Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) to ensure timely completion.
“We have engaged all stakeholders to complete this project. The fiscal financial space we are operating in cuts across all ministries, including water and sanitation. We are in constant communication with AfDB to fast-track payment of pending certificates so the contractor can complete the work,” Mugaa stated.
He acknowledged cash flow challenges but noted that dam embankment settlement is nearing completion.
“Technically, for the last two months, we had to allow settlement. It is almost complete. Farmers in the lower region will no longer rely on unpredictable rains but will instead do irrigation farming,” he added.
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