State to build mega dam in Mt Kenya Forest
Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Sanitation Winnie Guchu. She has said that Kahurura Dam, with a capacity of 3.5 billion litres, will be completed by 2022. PHOTO | JEF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Leaders had sought the intervention of the national government in the project, whose implementation has been delayed ever since the idea was mooted.
- A meeting was held mid last month aimed at harmonisation of both the Fund and Laikipia County government through various ministries and other players including the Water Resources Management Authority.
The national government has pledged to finance the building of a mega dam in Mt Kenya Forest at a cost of Sh8 billion in a bid to alleviate water shortages in parts of Laikipia County.
Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Sanitation Winnie Guchu said that Kahurura Dam, with a capacity of 3.5 billion litres, will be completed by 2022.
Once completed, it will end water shortages in more than half of Laikipia.
Speaking during a two-day water conference, Ms Guchu noted that the project has been in the pipeline for the last eight years.
EVALUATION
“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 evaluation that is going on,” she said.
Leaders who spoke during the conference led by Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi had sought the intervention of the national government in the project, whose implementation has been delayed ever since the idea was mooted.
Ms Guchu said the dam is among other such projects in six counties and which would be supported under Rural, Water and Sanitation and Natural Resources programme through Water Service Trust Fund (WSTF).
FINANCING
A meeting was held mid last month aimed at harmonisation of both the Fund and Laikipia County government through various ministries and other players including the Water Resources Management Authority.
The WSTF will facilitate 70 per cent cash and kind while the counties would cater for the 30 per cent financing in the implementation of the water programme in Kwale, Migori, Nandi, Narok and Tharaka-Nithi.
