Construction works on the Kerio dams, consisting of the Arror and Kimwarer dams, is set to begin. This is after the Country’s President William Ruto met with Sergio Mattarella, his Italian counterpart, in Nairobi over the project.
The US $630M project was halted by the former President Uhuru Kenyatta who cited corruption. In 2019 the Italian firms moved to court seeking Sh12.4 billion in damages for the cancellation of the contract at a time when they had begun work. The meeting has set up a motion whereby the government will work on a framework agreed upon under which court cases relating to projects will be settled.
“We have agreed on a framework to settle all court cases,” said President Ruto during the meeting with Mattarella on his four-day official visit to Kenya.
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Kerio dams
The multi-purpose dams project consist will be established on river Arror and on river Kimwarer in Marakwet West and Keiyo South sub-counties respectively. The dams which will be constructed on a 6, 0000 acres piece of land, will be acquired from the local community at a cost of US $63m to cater for their land compensation and resettlement of the displaced locals. Arror dam will cost US $385m and Kimwarer in Keiyo South US $280m.
“More than 30 consultants who include engineers, designers and planners are already on the ground and the construction process is to last shorter than anticipated. The engineers are already carrying out mapping and evaluation of the projects which will facilitate piping for the hydroelectricity and irrigation project,” said Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) managing director Mr. David Kimosop.
