Thwake Multi Purpose Water Development Program

The National Program Steering Committee (NPSC) for Thwake Multi Purpose Water Development Program plays a pivotal role in steering this flagship Kenya Vision 2030 project funded by the African Development Bank Group and implemented by the Ministry Of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation . Comprising key stakeholders from relevant ministries, the NPSC fosters synergy and teamwork to tackle general policy issues and implementation challenges, ensuring timely implementation

Government of Makueni County Kitui County Government
Konza Technopolis County Government of Machakos Water Works Development Agency

In today's MyGov publication page 4, the editorial team highlights the African Development Bank GroupThwake Multi Purpose Water Development Program progress. According to the AfDB’s Director General for East Africa Region, Alex Mubiru the Bank praised the Ministry Of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation for its oversight, noting remarkable advancements noting the dam's completion will transform Lower Eastern Kenya's socio-economic landscape, alleviating water scarcity for millions of women and children even as the continental lender planning to secure an additional €70 million to finish the first phase.
Government of Makueni County
Kitui County Government
County Government of Machakos
Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation
Konza Technopolis
Kenya Vision 2030

https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/afdb-applauds-thwake-multi-purpose-dam-progress/

MMinistry Of Water, Sanitation and IrrigationAAfrican Development Bank GroupKKitui County GovernmentGGovernment of Makueni CountyKKenya Vision 2030

AfDB applauds Thwake Multi-Purpose Dam progress – Kenya News Agency AfDB applauds Thwake Multi-Purpose Dam progress KNA4 October 16, 2025 Counties, Infrastructure, Makueni 0 Share on TwitterTweet Share on LinkedIn Share Send email Mail The African Development Bank (AfDB), Director General East Africa Region, Dr Alex Mutebi Mubiru, has applauded the progress made in....

https://businessnow.co.ke/afdb-hints-at-disbursing-e70m-in-more-funding-for-thwake-dam/

Ministry Of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation
African Development Bank Group
Government of Makueni County
Kitui County Government

AfDB hints at disbursing €70M in more funding for Thwake Dam - Business Now AfDB hints at disbursing €70M in more funding for Thwake Dam Business Now Business Now Investment - Business Now Business Now

AFDB APPLAUDS THWAKE DAM PROGRESS, SIGNALS ADDITIONAL €70M FUNDING

Wote, Makueni, October 15, 2025 — The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has expressed strong confidence in the progress of the Thwake Multi Purpose Water Development Program and is poised to secure an additional €70 million euros to complete its critical first phase.

The announcement follows a site visit by AfDB officials, who praised the resolution of key social and environmental challenges that had previously delayed financing ahead of the key meeting by the Bank’s Board on November 15, 2025.

Speaking during the tour, AfDB Director General for East Africa, Alex Mubiru, lauded the Ministry Of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation for its diligent oversight.

“The progress here is remarkable,” Mubiru said. “We eagerly anticipate the day when water flows to the people of Government of Makueni County and Kitui County Government, connected by a new road bridging these counties.” While accompanied by other bank officials, Mubiru highlighted the AfDB’s long-standing partnership with Kenya, emphasizing the bank’s commitment to delivering high-quality projects on time and within budget despite challenges.

Mubiru underscored the AfDB’s resolve to see the project through, noting Kenya’s status as a key shareholder. “As a bank, we have a duty to finish what we started,” he said. The dam’s completion promises to reshape the socio-economic landscape of Lower Eastern Kenya, offering hope to millions, particularly women and children, who have endured decades of water scarcity.

The move by the Bank is set to accelerate the dam’s completion and unlock its vast potential.

Water Secretary Eng. Samuel Alima revealed that construction has advanced significantly, with concrete face slabbing underway since mid-September.

“We’ve requested additional resources from the AfDB ahead of the November board meeting,” Alima said. “With this funding, we’ll complete critical components, including the concrete face, the Kitui-Makueni link road and bridge, and the installation of hydromechanical equipment and gates, within eight months.”

He added that water impoundment is expected to begin during the October-November 2026 rains, paving the way for discussions on funding the remaining phases, which include irrigation, power generation, and water supply systems.

Thwake Dam – funded by AfDB – is set to be Kenya’s second-largest water reservoir and spans 9,217 acres with a catchment area of 10,276 km² and a storage capacity of 688 million cubic meters. Its first phase, now nearing completion, involves constructing an 80.5-meter-high embankment dam.

Subsequent phases will deliver treated water to 1.3 million residents and Konza Techno City, generate 20 MW of hydropower, and irrigate 40,000 hectares of land, revolutionizing agriculture in a region long plagued by drought and famine.
Ends

Delivering on the Promise.....Thwake Takes Shape....

Ministry Of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation
African Development Bank Group
Government of Makueni County
Konza Technopolis
Kitui County Government

About to cross the RUBICON.....

Ministry Of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation
African Development Bank Group
Kitui County Government
Government of Makueni County
Konza Technopolis
Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation
County Government of Machakos

CS Mugaa addresses fresh delays at Thwake Dam Mugaa assured that the government is working to unlock cash-flow issues and remains committed to completing the dam to serve more than one million residents ...

https://www.kbc.co.ke/thwake-dam-project-hits-milestone-with-completion-of-embankment-area/

Thwake Dam project hits milestone with completion of embankment area - KBC The construction of Thwake Dam is scheduled to be completed by December 10, 2024, following the final filling of its embankment area. Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Zachariah Njeru, who witnessed the final filling and closure of the embankment area, stated that the filling of th...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W58clhfSX70

Ujenzi wa bwawa la Thwake wajikokota kwa kukosa pesa Serikali kwa mara nyingine imejitetea kufuatia kuendelea kujikokota kwa ujenzi wa bwawa la Thwake ,ndoto ya wakwazi wa eneo la ukambani kupata maji karibuni ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQSG1YM9cxU

Ujenzi wa bwawa la Thwake wapiga hatua kubwa 🔴 LIVE: US Election Day 2024: KTN News Kenya | Breaking News & Entertainment HubWelcome to ...

THWAKE DAM CONSTRUCTION REACHES KEY MILESTONE IN MAKUENI COUNTY

Wote, Makueni County, September 24, 2025

Construction of the Thwake Multi Purpose Water Development Program (Thwake Dam) has achieved a significant milestone, with the government initiating upstream phase surface concreting, a critical step toward water impounding. This development marks one of the final stages in the construction of the dam’s embankment, setting the stage for hydromechanical equipment installation and link road construction in the coming months.

During a site visit to oversee the start of the upstream concreting, Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, Eng. Eric Mugaa, announced that the process paves the way for water impounding, expected to commence during the next long rainy season. “We have made significant progress. This is the first layer of upstream phase concreting, which could only begin after the dam embankment settled at a rate of 5 mm per month over several months,” Mugaa explained.

Accompanied by Principal Secretary Julius Korir, Water Secretary Eng. Samuel A.O. Alima, and Program Implementation Team Coordinator Eng. Joseph Kariuki, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed that the dam has reached the required stability with no visible cracks. “We are now confident to proceed with upstream phase surface concreting to minimize water slippage,” he added. The contractor conducted rigorous laboratory tests on concrete and steel to ensure the quality of the 1.5-meter-long wall, a process expected to take 6-7 months before impounding can begin.

Principal Secretary Korir noted that the Ministry is nearing the completion of the first phase of construction. With a physical progress rate of 94.2%, the Thwake Dam, located at the confluence of the Athi and Thwake rivers on the Makueni-Kitui border, is poised to become Kenya’s second-largest water reservoir. The project, implemented by the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, is expected to transform the socio-economic landscape of the region by addressing decades-long water scarcity, drought, and famine, which have disproportionately impacted women and children.

The Thwake Multipurpose Water Development Program, designed to benefit approximately 1.3 million residents in rural parts of Makueni, Kitui, and other Lower Eastern counties, is being executed in four phases. Upon completion, the dam is expected to significantly enhance water security and drive economic development in a region long plagued by water challenges.

Ministry Of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation
African Development Bank Group
Kitui County Government
Government of Makueni County
County Government of Machakos
Athi Water Works Development Agency
Konza Technopolis

Thwake Multi Purpose Water Development Program will be a BEACON for Sustainable Growth, Powering agriculture and industry with a reliable water supply. With key goal to provide a Resilient Future, the Project will equally combating drought, securing food, and building a stronger Kenya.

Thwake Dam – A Beacon of Hope, Progress, and Unity
Ministry Of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation
Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation
African Development Bank Group
Kitui County Government
Government of Makueni County
County Government of Machakos