Delayed payment from the national government is slowing down construction of the Thwake Multipurpose Dam, project manager Xing Wentao has said.
Wentao was addressing National Treasury PS Julius Muia on Wednesday during a tour to inspect the progress of the project at the confluence of River Athi and Thwake, at the border of Makueni and Kitui counties.
“We are ready, but payment is the main problem, if you can sort out the issues of payment and VAT in time, then we will be able to mobilise the machinery and workforce to complete the project in time,” Wentao told the PS who was accompanied by Makueni county commissioner Mohammed Maalim, consultants and a team from the Water ministry.
Wentao said Gezhouba Group Corporation, the Chinese company contracted to build the Sh42 billion project had already issued Interim Payment Certificates for various works awaiting part-payment which are yet to be processed by the Treasury.
He said the project that has so far consumed Sh16 billion was estimated to be 41.2 per cent complete.
The first phase, which is currently on course, involves the construction of 80.5m high multi-purpose dam (688 million cubic metre storage capacity) and associated preliminary works needed to enable the implementation of the other three phases.
Phase two of the work will involve the construction of hydropower and sanitation development expected to generate at least 20MW of installed capacity.
The project’s third phase will involve the development of a water supply system to treat and distribute up to 150,000 cubic meters of treated water per day to millions of rural residents of Makueni, Kitui and Konza City in Machakos.
“We are planning to clean the rivers upstream by doing away with pollution of the environment in a bid to ensure the dam is supplied with clean water,” Muia said.
The last stage of the project will see the development of irrigation works for up to 40,075 hectares of land in Makueni and Kitui counties.
Speaking to reporters during his tour, Muia said the government is committed to ensuring Vision 2030 project jointly funded by the government of Kenya and the World Bank is completed before its scheduled time.
He assured the contractor that all pending payments will be expedited for the timely completion of works.
“Many government projects delay unnecessarily, some up to 10 years and past the period agreed. The President is keen on having all government projects completed on time,” Muia said.
The PS said the Thwake Dam Project remains in government focus as it is a key enabler for the realisation of the government’s Big 4 agenda and Vision 2030 projects.
He said there was a dedicated team at the Treasury which will work with KRA to sort out the issues of VAT and the payment of the delayed funds.
“We are in discussion with all critical stakeholders like Kenya Revenue Authority, the African Development Bank and the Ministry of Water to ensure all payments are made in time,” the PS said.
On compensation to the persons affected by the project, the PS said only 25 people whose land had succession issues were yet to be compensated.
However, he said the money is with the National Land Commission and will be paid to the landowners once their succession issues are fully resolved.
Edited by R.Wamochie
