MAKUENI, Kenya – A significant milestone is imminent for the Thwake Multi-Purpose Water Development Program, a flagship project under Kenya’s Vision 2030, since water impounding is anticipated to start during the rainy season of April–June 2026.
The dam is set to change the lives of 1.3 million people in Kenya’s semi-arid Lower Eastern area. Phase 1 construction is 94.2% complete.
It is situated at the junction of the Athi and Thwake rivers on the border of Makueni and Kitui counties.
Water Secretary at the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Samuel Alima, urged the contractor to expedite preparations during a routine inspection site meeting. He emphasised the importance of a realistic work plan and the importance of essential hydro-mechanical equipment.
“The contractor must start placing the concrete slab and resolve all pending non-conformity reports, including health, safety, and environmental issues, within two weeks,” Alima directed while addressing representatives from the contractor, supervising consultant SMEC, and the implementation team.
How the Thwake Dam Program is being implemented
A key component of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the Thwake Dam Program is jointly sponsored by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Government of Kenya.
An 80.5-meter-high embankment is part of Phase 1, the first of four phases intended to alleviate water scarcity, increase food security, produce renewable energy, and promote socioeconomic development.
Upon completion, the dam will generate 150,000 cubic meters of pure water delivered daily for use in homes, farms, and businesses, including Konza Technopolis. This advances Kenya’s goal of universal water access by 2030 and is consistent with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.
It is anticipated that the dam will have a significant effect on agriculture. Over 100,000 households would profit from the year-round cultivation on 40,000 hectares of farmland made possible by the irrigating of 100,000 acres.
This move away from rain-fed agriculture will improve livelihoods in a drought-stricken area, increase food security, lower poverty, and boost the AfDB’s “Feed Africa” campaign.
Additionally, the dam will generate 20 MW of hydropower, contributing to Kenya’s renewable energy goals and powering irrigation systems and industrial activities. This supports the AfDB’s “Light Up and Power Africa” priority and promotes economic diversification.
What the Thwake Dam Program means to the locals
The project is also expected to create 8,000 jobs, particularly for youth and women, in construction and agribusiness, while regulating Athi River flows to mitigate floods and droughts.
The key activity for the Thwake Multi-Purpose Water Development Program Phase 1 (TMWDP) is the construction of the dam embankment and associated works. As of December 2024, the implementation of the dam civil works and other related activities was ongoing, with overall progress of works at 94.20%.
The dam, considered to be the second largest water reservoir in the country, will benefit approximately 1.3 million residents drawn from the rural parts of semi-arid counties of Makueni, Kitui and parts of Machakos.
The project will critically transform the socio-economic enterprise of the region, which has suffered from rampant water scarcity for decades.
As the embankment awaits concrete slabbing, the Thwake Dam is a beacon of hope for Lower Eastern Kenya. By addressing critical challenges like water scarcity and food insecurity while driving economic growth, this transformative project underscores Kenya’s commitment to sustainable development.
