15/10/2026
AFDB PLEDGES DOWNSTREAM PUSH AS THWAKE MULTIPURPOSE DAM PHASE 1 ACCELERATES TOWARDS COMPLETION
Wote, Makueni, Thursday, October 15, 2026
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has committed to financing the downstream phases of the Thwake Multi Purpose Water Development Program, a move that would extend the Kenya Vision 2030 flagship's benefits far beyond the dam wall — to water taps, irrigation canals and power lines serving close to 1.3 million residents in Makueni County Government, Kitui County Government and parts of County Government of Machakos.
Speaking during a site visit on Thursday, October 15, 2026, AfDB Director for Water and Sanitation Eng. Mtchera Chirwa said the continental lender is already discussing the downstream investments needed to unlock the project's full benefits, even as the dam itself hits 94.23 percent completion.
"As a Bank, we will ensure the project reaches completion and achieves the benefits. This means provision of water for food security; implementation of the irrigation component, water supply and sanitation for residents and hydropower for energy generation," Chirwa told journalists.
The critical downstream works consist of water supply producing 150,000 cubic metres of water to serve Wote and neighbouring areas and towns in Makueni and Kitui — benefiting close to 1.3 million residents — and also supplying water to Konza Techno City. The program will additionally produce 20 megawatts of power for the operations of the dam and irrigate 40,000 acres of land.
Chirwa, who was accompanied by the Water Secretary and Thwake Project Manager, Eng Sam Alima, AfDBs Regional Manager for Water Security and Sanitation Eng. Mecuria Assefaw, and the AfDB's Eng. Lazarus Phiri and Ms. Caroline Ogutu (Water Sector Engineer, AfDB), reiterated that water impoundment and filling is anticipated for early 2027.
"We look forward to completion of the outstanding works, which are planned for by the middle of next year. Once we implement the downstream investments, this will lead directly to the impacts that we are talking about here," he added.
He further assured that the African Development Bank is a committed partner to the government and "will be here until the completion even as talks are already ongoing on the implementation of the critical downstream phases and additional investments that are needed."
Eng. Alima confirmed that works had resumed following a financing gap, after the AfDB signed a KSh 10.6 billion additional financing. He added that the remaining works focus on the concrete face slab and the bridge over the embankment.
"The contractor has resumed with the concrete face already having some panels while others are also under preparation. They have also started doing the bridge," Eng. Alima said.
The Water Secretary assured that the Ministry Of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation was targeting to store water by the end of January 2027, and then commissioning by April 2027.
"This is a game changer for this region, because water is life, and sanitation is dignity. The government is bringing life and dignity to this region," he noted.
Eng. Alima added that parallel efforts to clean the Nairobi River system — including sewage collection and treatment and river widening — are underway to ensure clean water reaches the dam.
ENDS
Ministry Of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation
African Development Bank Group
Makueni County Government
Kitui County Government
County Government of Machakos
Tanathi Water Works Development Agency
Konza Technopolis
