Kenya is constructing the largest water project in semi arid area that will supply water and electricity to millions of residents, Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has announced.
Thwake Dam at the confluence of Thwake and Athi Rivers will supply water to over one million residents of Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties as well as generate 20 megawatts of electricity to power Konza Tech City in Makueni County.
largest water project in semi-arid area that is set to be constructed in Kenya is a Vision 2030 flagship project and is jointly funded by the Kenyan government and the African Development Bank.
The Kenyan government has already set aside Sh2.8 billion to compensate residents whose land would be acquired for the project.
“The water project the largest in the country will provide water to irrigate 40,000 hectares of land in this region,” said Mr Wamalwa.
Residents are expected to be paid as soon as the Tanathi Water Services Board completes verification of plot ownership and sizes.
Residents affected by the project, will be paid Sh180, 000 per acre.
Political leaders have hailed the project as the much needed impetus for economic growth the region needed.
However, they want the government to prioritise the irrigation component over the generation of electricity and commit to undertake other projects to ameliorate the residents from the ills that could come from the completed dam.
