Boost for Nyeri farmers as Sh13bn dams set to be built in Kieni

A photo of Thika Dam (Ndakaini). Two dams are set to be constructed in Kieni, Nyeri County at the cost of Sh13 billion shillings. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • A feasibility study identified Chania, Tinga, Naromoru, Kamburaini, Waiwa, Nagre-Ngiro and Karemenu dams as the water sources that will enable irrigation on 5,200 hectares.
  • Karemenu Dam is expected to have a water storage capacity of 4 million cubic metres and irrigate about 1,000 hectares.

  • Naromoru Dam will have a storage capacity of 10.5 million cubic metres and irrigate about 2,900 hectares.

  • Each dam will be constructed at a cost of Sh6.5 billion including piping.

Two dams are set to be built in Kieni, Nyeri County, at a cost Sh13 billion.

According to an advertisement placed in the dailies by the Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority last week, Naromoru Dam will be constructed in Kieni East, and Karemenu Dam in Kieni West.

Each dam will be constructed at a cost of Sh6.5 billion including piping.

The planners say the project will help create jobs and improve the socio-economic status of the region through improved food security.

The dams will be built on rivers with inlets from the Aberdares Range and Mt Kenya water towers.

A feasibility study identified Chania, Tinga, Naromoru, Kamburaini, Waiwa, Nagre-Ngiro and Karemenu dams as the water sources that will enable irrigation on 5,200 hectares.

Karemenu Dam is expected to have a water storage capacity of 4 million cubic metres and to irrigate about 1,000 hectares. Naromoru Dam will have a storage capacity of 10.5 million cubic metres and an irrigation command of 2,900 hectares.

FUNDING

Due to a shortage of funds, the government has decided to start with the two dams as it continues to source for more money to construct the rest.

According to the advert, the dams will be constructed within two years.

At the same time, the financier is required to provide adequate funding for the two dams and respective irrigation infrastructure.

According to Kieni MP, Kanini Kega, all the dams will be constructed on government land and there will be no delays arising from compensation or moving some residents from the sites.

“Since the dams will be constructed in forests, we already have approval from the National Environment Management Authority, the Kenya Forest Service and the Kenya Wildlife Service,” said the lawmaker.

The tender will be closed in three weeks, with construction scheduled to start in early April.