The state is set to spend Sh8 billion for the construction of a mega dam in Mt Kenya Forest in order to reduce water shortages in parts of Laikipia County.
Winnie Guchu, chief administrative secretary in the Ministry of Water and Sanitation said Kahurura Dam, which will have a capacity of 3.5 billion litres, will be completed by 2022. The dam is expected to put water shortages to an end in more than half of that county.
Guchu said during a two-day water conference that plans to build the dam began eight years ago.
“It is one of the priority projects for the next five years. Currently, I am told it has been advertised and the bills have come and now it is the evaluation that is going on,” she said.
Laikipia Governor, Ndiritu Muriithi said during the conference that the county sought the national government’s intervention since the execution of the project has been delayed for long.
Guchu said the dam project is one of such projects planned for six counties. The Rural, Water and Sanitation and Natural Resources programme is supporting these projects through the Water Service Trust Fund (WSTF).
A meeting held last month brought together WSTF and the Laikipia County Government through several ministries and other stakeholders such as the Water Resources Management Authority in order to coordinate the implementation of the mega dam in Mt Kenya Forest.
WSTF will offer 70 percent of the funds for the water projects in Migori, Tharaka-Nithi, Kwale, Nandi, and Narok while the counties will finance the deficit.
