Thwake Multi Purpose Water Development Program

Delivering on the Promise.....Thwake Takes Shape....

Ministry Of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation
African Development Bank Group
Government of Makueni County
Konza Technopolis
Kitui County Government

https://www.kbc.co.ke/thwake-dam-project-hits-milestone-with-completion-of-embankment-area/

Thwake Dam project hits milestone with completion of embankment area - KBC The construction of Thwake Dam is scheduled to be completed by December 10, 2024, following the final filling of its embankment area. Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Zachariah Njeru, who witnessed the final filling and closure of the embankment area, stated that the filling of th...

THWAKE DAM CONSTRUCTION REACHES KEY MILESTONE IN MAKUENI COUNTY

Wote, Makueni County, September 24, 2025

Construction of the Thwake Multi Purpose Water Development Program (Thwake Dam) has achieved a significant milestone, with the government initiating upstream phase surface concreting, a critical step toward water impounding. This development marks one of the final stages in the construction of the dam’s embankment, setting the stage for hydromechanical equipment installation and link road construction in the coming months.

During a site visit to oversee the start of the upstream concreting, Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, Eng. Eric Mugaa, announced that the process paves the way for water impounding, expected to commence during the next long rainy season. “We have made significant progress. This is the first layer of upstream phase concreting, which could only begin after the dam embankment settled at a rate of 5 mm per month over several months,” Mugaa explained.

Accompanied by Principal Secretary Julius Korir, Water Secretary Eng. Samuel A.O. Alima, and Program Implementation Team Coordinator Eng. Joseph Kariuki, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed that the dam has reached the required stability with no visible cracks. “We are now confident to proceed with upstream phase surface concreting to minimize water slippage,” he added. The contractor conducted rigorous laboratory tests on concrete and steel to ensure the quality of the 1.5-meter-long wall, a process expected to take 6-7 months before impounding can begin.

Principal Secretary Korir noted that the Ministry is nearing the completion of the first phase of construction. With a physical progress rate of 94.2%, the Thwake Dam, located at the confluence of the Athi and Thwake rivers on the Makueni-Kitui border, is poised to become Kenya’s second-largest water reservoir. The project, implemented by the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, is expected to transform the socio-economic landscape of the region by addressing decades-long water scarcity, drought, and famine, which have disproportionately impacted women and children.

The Thwake Multipurpose Water Development Program, designed to benefit approximately 1.3 million residents in rural parts of Makueni, Kitui, and other Lower Eastern counties, is being executed in four phases. Upon completion, the dam is expected to significantly enhance water security and drive economic development in a region long plagued by water challenges.

Ministry Of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation
African Development Bank Group
Kitui County Government
Government of Makueni County
County Government of Machakos
Athi Water Works Development Agency
Konza Technopolis