Barely a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta cancelled the construction of Kimwarer dam, a stalled multi-billion Thwake dam construction is now on course.
Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna, government officials and local leaders toured the border of Makueni and Kitui counties, where Thwake dam is being constructed, to asses the project.
Oguna, who spoke to journalists, confirmed that the first phase of the project was going on smoothly and expressed optimism that it will be completed by 2022.
“As a government, we are here to ascertain the progress of the Thwake dam project.
The engineers have assured us that the first phase is on course well so that our Makueni, Kitui and Machakos counties can benefit from it once completed,” said Oguna.
The government also assured residents that their concerns over the project will be addressed once the ongoing tussle is amicably solved.
He assured them that funds were already allocated for compensation adding that the government had no qualms settling them.
“It is true 22 people have not been compensated and it is because of family conflicts revolving around inheritance.
The government has set aside at least Ksh3 billion to carter for those not compensated and the funds are with the National Land Commission. So let them address their family issues and they will be sorted,” urged the Government Spokesperson.
The second phase of the project is expected to generate electricity while the third phase will be supplying water to the neighbouring regions.
Oguna’s move to fast-track the construction of the project comes at the backdrop of the filed petition at Senate assembly seeking to reinstate the construction of Kimwarer dam.
Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen, in the petition, want the Senate to revoke President Kenyatta’s decision to cancel the Kimwarer dam project.
On Thursday last week, President Uhuru cancelled the Ksh22.2 billion dam and ordered a review of Arror dam cost downwards.
The move received backlash from Rift Valley leaders who claimed the president was misadvised on the cancellation in order to deny residents a project they deserved.