Construction works on the Mwache multipurpose dam is set to begin next year in March 2021. The Coast Development Authority (CDA) revealed the report and said that the much awaited project which aims to end perennial water shortage in Kwale County.
CDA Managing Director Dr. Mohamed Keinan explained that the project which was first mulled by CDA in 1995 has been delayed due to lack of funding. But now plans to begin construction were given fresh impetus when the government secured the required funding. Population growth and growing demand for precious water resources also accelerated the construction of the mega-dam.
“We are currently increasing the forest cover for the entire Mwache catchment area that stretches from Taita Taveta County to Kwale. other ongoing activities include tree planting, terracing, contour ploughing, rock terracing, gabion construction, and riparian marking and pegging to allow for the regeneration of natural vegetation,” said Dr Mohamed.
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Mwache multi-purpose dam project
The Mwache Multi-purpose Dam Development Project is a priority investment by the Government as a flagship project of Vision 2030. The project was under the portfolio of the former Ministry of Regional Development Authorities (MoRDA) through the Coast Development Authority (CDA) working in partnership with Coast Water Services Board (CWSB).
The project is being co-funded by the World Bank and the Government of Kenya to the tune of Sh 20bn. The dam site is located across the Mwache River at the Fulugani village, Kwale County, about 22 km west of the city of Mombasa. The Coast Water Supply Master Plan identified the dam as the preferential, viable, and necessary long-term option for water supply to Mombasa and Kwale counties.
The project comprises 87.5 meter-tall concrete gravity dyke with the capacity to hold 118 million cubic meters of water critical in supporting agriculture and boosting water supply even to Mombasa County. The massive dam when complete is expected to put 2,600 hectares of land under irrigation in Kwale County.
