The government of Kenya has launched phase one of the Makamini Dam project in McKinnon Road Ward, Kwale County. Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya and the Water, Sanitation and Irrigation CS Sicily Kariuki performed the launch ceremony.

The construction of the Makamini dam project becomes the second big project after the Mwache multipurpose dam project, which is meant to harness the flood flows from Mwache River basin for domestic water supply and irrigation in Kwale and Mombasa counties.

The US $186m Mwache Dam is an 87.5-meter-tall concrete gravity dyke, impounding 118 million cubic meters for water supply and irrigation and is expected to boost the water supply for the two coastal counties.

Water scarcity

The water project is being financed by the national government through the Coast Water Works Development Agency at a cost of US $11m. It is aimed at improving water, health and hygiene in arid and semi-arid parts of the vast county.

The CS Kariuki said the first phase of the project is expected to be completed in 18 months. Once fully complete, the dam will be providing potable water to over 40,000 residents from Makamini, Kinagoni, Matumbi, Mtaa, Mabesheni, Bofu, Kibandaongo, Mnyenzeni and Mwamdudu sub locations.

“Infrastructure investments are crucial to extend water and sanitation services to more people across the country. We are optimistic that the Makamini Dam project once complete, together with other dams funded by the devolved unit such as the Mwakalanga, Kizingo and Dziweni dams will solve the water scarcity problem facing the people living in the semi-arid areas of the county,” said Governor Mvurya.

“The project will also help local people, especially mothers who walk long distances in search of water. It will also reduce cases of sexual abuse among the girls and it will help them concentrate with their studies instead of searching for water,” the Governor added.