Construction works on Koru-Soin Dam in Kisumu County is set to kick off. County Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o made the announcement and said that an agreement has been sealed between the National Water Harvesting Authority (NWHA) and the community living on the land earmarked for the project.
Affected households on the 2, 500 acres of land in Kisumu and Kericho counties have been engaged to pave way for the construction of the dam. Nyong’o said the national government was working out modalities for compensation of the affected people on the 360 parcels of land ahead of the construction of the multi-purpose dam.
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Koru-Soin Multi-Purpose Dam
The Koru-Soin Multi-Purpose Dam will be built on the Nyando River, upstream of the town of Muhoroni, in Kisumu County, western Kenya. The dam will have a reservoir covering over 1,000 hectares, affecting 360 parcels of land, of which 230 and 130 are in Kisumu and Kericho counties. It will also act as a sediment trap, reducing sediment build-up downstream, which is the main cause of flooding and ensure regulation of the river flow, thus providing water for irrigation all year round.
The project aims to prevent perennial floods in the area and also provide 71,279 cubic meters per day to locals once completed. The newly elevated Ahero town will have constant supply of clean water for domestic use. The future dam will supply will also operate a 2.5 MW hydroelectric power plant.
The National Government has already committed Sh 25bn for the project. The approximate budget for the dam and water supply components is Sh 30bn, while land compensation will cost Sh 2bn.
“The completion of the dam will ensure that residents access clean, safe and cheap water for domestic, commercial and institutional use. Kisumu city and emerging towns of Ahero, Muhoroni, Chemelil, Awasi, Miwani, Rabuor, Koru, Koitaburot, Katito, Masogo and Ombeyi will be the major beneficiaries.Area residents near the dam site and downstream will be served with water to supplement the existing facilities,” said Prof. Nyong’o.
