Water for 1.3 million people, 40,000 acres of irrigation, 20MW hydropower, flood control
Thwake Dam (Thwake Multipurpose Dam)
A 80m-high multipurpose dam on the Thwake River serving Makueni, Kitui, and Machakos counties for water and energy.
AnnouncedJanuary 1, 2014
StartedNovember 1, 2017
Expected CompletionDecember 31, 2025
Financials
Offering PriceKsh 36,000,000,000KES
Timeline
AfDB Financing Approved
African Development Bank approved financing for Thwake Dam
Construction Begins
Dam construction officially commenced
Delays and Cost Overruns
Project experienced significant delays, pushing completion date back multiple times
Contractors
China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC)
Main ContractorChinese contractor building the main dam structure and associated works
Politicians Involved
Uhuru Kenyatta
President of KenyaLaunched Thwake Dam construction
Kivutha Kibwana
Governor of MakueniAdvocated for the dam as critical infrastructure for Makueni County
Benefits
Description
Thwake Dam is a multipurpose dam being constructed on the confluence of the Thwake and Athi rivers in Makueni County. Standing 80 meters high, it will supply water to approximately 1.3 million people in Makueni, Kitui, and Machakos counties, provide irrigation water for 40,000 acres, and generate 20MW of hydroelectric power. Funded by the African Development Bank, the project has faced significant delays and cost overruns.
Overview
Largest dam under construction in Kenya, serving three counties in the semi-arid southeastern region that has historically suffered from water scarcity.