- “The progress is very impressive at 62 per cent against 77 per cent elapsed time taking note that this comes at a time of Covid-19 ” Chanda added.
- The bank is the leading contributor in financial capital for the programme's phase I, estimated at Sh42 billion.
The African Development Bank has promised more support to Thwake Multipurpose Dam project.
The bank is the leading contributor in financial capital for the project's phase I, estimated at Sh42 billion.
"We have so far disbursed Sh22 billion towards this project and we can already see the impact including massive socio-economic impact,” AfDB acting director for Water Development and Sanitation Osward Chanda said.
“The progress is very impressive at 62 per cent against 77 per cent elapsed time taking note that this comes at a time when Covid-19 ravaged implementation of many projects including Thwake Dam” Chanda added.
He spoke on Tuesday during a tour of the project site while accompanied by AfDB task manager in charge of Thwake Multipurpose Water Development programme Christopher Mutasa and Benson Bumbe, Principal Water and Sanitation specialist at the AfDB.
The total cost for phase I is Sh42.365 billion which is fully funded by AfDB and the Government of Kenya with Sh32.510 billion from AfDB and Sh9.855 billion from the state.
The bank has expressed satisfaction with the advanced planning, design and development of three other remaining key components of water supply and sanitation development, hydropower and transmission and irrigation.
"We are studying them as a bank and are committed to the full completion of this project so that people can feel and see its benefits,” Chanda said.
The design of the three phases are at different stages
The water supply component whose design is in progress, will provide treated water estimated at 150,000 cubic metres per day to approximately 1.3 million people.
This will contribute to universal health care by reducing water-borne diseases.
Centers to benefit include Wote town, Kitui Rural up to Kwavonza sub-urban center, Makueni rural covering Mavindini and Kalawa sub-urban centers and Kathonzweni town.
Another critical component of hydropower and transmission is to be developed next year with an installed capacity of approximately 20 megawatts.
The development of an irrigation scheme to ultimately irrigate approximately 100,000 acres is expected to begin in January 2023.
The state is committed to completing phase 1 of the project on time in June 2022 to guarantee the implementation of the other three phases.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)