Private firms to help build dam, says Water CS Eugene Wamalwa
Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa at a past event. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU |
What you need to know:
- The two-billion-cubic-metre dam would supply irrigation water for 500,000 acres to be launched in March 2017.
- Mr Wamalwa said local and international investors had been invited to take part in the project.
Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa on Wednesday said the government will build a Sh60 billion dam in Galana-Kulalu through a public-private partnership.
The two-billion-cubic-metre dam would supply irrigation water for 500,000 acres to be launched in March 2017.
Mr Wamalwa said local and international investors had been invited to take part in the project.
“Despite challenges, the Galana-Kulalu project model farm is gathering momentum,” he said.
Work consists of irrigation systems, pumping stations, a logistics centre and agriculture machinery. The project is due for completion in March 2017.
“We are completing the 10,000-acre model farm. Once the dam we do so, we will be ready to commission the 500,000 acres,” Mr Wamalwa added.
“We are confident that we will achieve the government’s original target of a million acres under irrigation.”
The scheme usually gets water from River Galana through sprinklers. Project manager Mwangi Thuita said there was a need to construct the dam because River Galana was shrinking.
