By Nuru Salim.
The construction of the multi-billion shilling Mwache Multipurpose Dam in Kwale County has reached 28% completion, with the main dam structure currently at 16%, according to Principal Secretary for Irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho.
During their recent site visit, Kimotho, accompanied by World Bank Global Water Practice Director Saroj Kumar Jha, assured that the project was progressing steadily despite past compensation challenges.
He stated that the floor concreting of the main dam is gaining momentum and is expected to be completed by September this year, while the entire project remains on track for completion in February 2027.
“The overall completion status of the entire project stands at 28%, but on the lower part of the dam where concreting is taking place, we are at 16%. This section is expected to be completed by September this year. The floor concreting will take months of nonstop work,” Kimotho stated.
The KSh 29.3 billion project, which commenced in March 2023, is jointly funded by the World Bank and the Kenyan government. The World Bank has committed KSh 29.2 billion for implementation, while the government is handling land acquisition and compensation for affected persons.
Kimotho acknowledged that land compensation had previously slowed down the project but assured that payments are ongoing.
“The total cost of land compensation is KSh 4.6 billion. So far, the government has paid KSh 2.6 billion. In the next few months, we will pay an additional KSh 600 million, and in the next financial year, we will clear the remaining KSh 1.4 billion,” he confirmed.
The project is expected to address water shortages in Mombasa and Kwale counties while boosting food security through irrigation farming. Kimotho highlighted an additional irrigation component under the Farmer-Led Irrigation Development (FLID) program, which will enhance agricultural productivity.
“So as we do the water management component, we are also combining it with an irrigation program. Under FLID, we will construct water pans that will support tree planting and help farmers irrigate their crops,” he explained.
World Bank’s Saroj Kumar Jha emphasized the project’s role in climate resilience, noting that the dam will serve as a critical storage facility to mitigate the impacts of drought and floods.
“This water storage system will allow for rainwater retention and controlled usage during dry seasons, making it a key solution for drought and flood management. The project aligns well with the World Bank’s support for Kenya in addressing climate change challenges,” Jha stated.
Mwache Dam is located across the Mwache River in Fulugani village, approximately 22 kilometers west of Mombasa. Once completed, it will supply 186,000 cubic meters of clean water daily to Mombasa and Kwale counties and provide irrigation for 1,000 acres, benefiting over 2,000 farmers.
The dam, a concrete gravity structure, will stand 84 meters high, covering a 2,250 square kilometer catchment area, with a reservoir capacity of approximately 118 million cubic meters.
Mwache Dam project is also intended to saddle the floodwaters from Mwache River basin in Samburu Sub County and assist with handling tenacious water deficiencies in the beach front district.
