The national government will allocate money to restart building of the Soin-Koru Dam in Kericho County. The government plans to restart the project, which stalled in September 2023 due to funding delays, as part of a broader initiative to revive key developments in the region.
Soin-Koru Dam project’s quick facts
- Location: River Nyando, at the border of Kericho and Muhoroni districts, about 5 km southeast of Muhoroni town.
- Project cost: Sh19.9 billion, with Sh499 million already disbursed as an advance payment.
- Completion date: Expected by August 27, 2027.
- Capacity: Designed to store 93.7 million cubic metres of water, covering approximately 2,170 acres of land.
- Key benefits: Flood control, improved potable water supply, irrigation for increased food production, and electricity generation for the national grid.
During the National Government Development County Implementation Coordination and Management Committee meeting (NGD-CICMC), Kericho County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo confirmed that the government would allocate funds to continue the dam’s construction and other stalled projects in the county.
Sh2.2 billion valuation report submitted for phase II compensation
Mr. Kitiyo urged affected farmers in the Soin-Koru Dam region to continue plowing and tilling their land for food production. He advised them to make full use of their land until the government officially begins construction on the project.
Furthermore, he assured the farmers that the government will compensate them for their land before any relocation takes place to make way for the dam’s construction.
At the same forum, Ms. Irine Chemutai, the liaison officer in charge of the Koru-Soin Dam in Kericho, explained the status of the compensation process. She said that the National Lands Commission (NLC) had already submitted a valuation report for Phase II.
However, she noted that the government has yet to deposit the required Sh2.2 billion with the NLC. This amount is intended for disbursement to about 1,200 people, covering approximately 478 land parcels.
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Land requirements and compensation breakdown
However, she voiced concern about the passage of time. She warned that authorities might need to re-evaluate the land parcels to reflect the current market value in the region.
In addition, Chemutai noted that the project requires approximately 2,170 acres of land. This includes land needed for the dam itself and the treatment works. She further explained that the compensation process has been divided into two phases.
- The first phase covers 23 embankment land parcels.
- The second phase covers 455 reservoir land parcels.
Sh19.9 billion allocated to the project with completion set for 2027
Chemutai revealed that the government will invest Sh19.9 billion in the massive project, which is expected to be completed by August 27, 2027. The government has already provided an advance payment of Sh499 million, or a 2.5 percent advance payment.
The project began on August 27, 2022, and was contracted by China Jiangxi International Kenya Limited and China Jiangxi International Economic and Cooperation Co. Ltd., a joint venture.
She went on to say that the projected Soin-Koru multi-purpose dam will help regulate floods, address portable water supply issues, and increase food productivity and electricity generation for the national grid. She explained that the project will store peak floodwaters and increase access to water for household animals and irrigated crops, which are vital for sustaining long-term livelihoods.
The Soin-Koru Dam location and capacity details
The Soin-Koru Dam is located on the River Nyando, which marks the boundary between Kericho and Muhoroni districts. It lies about five kilometres southeast of Muhoroni town, between Koitatui Hill and Got Alila.
The dam is designed to have a water storage capacity of approximately 93.7 million cubic metres, with an estimated length of 135 kilometres. Chemutai provided an update on the current status of the project, saying:
So far, the contractor’s overall progress stands at 7.5 percent. They have mobilised equipment and staff, carried out topsoil stripping at the dam embankment site, and established the contractor’s campsite and other key facilities.
