The government of Kenya has re-advertised the tender for the construction of the US $231 million Soin-Koru multipurpose dam after previous bidders failed to meet the minimum requirements.
National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority (NWHSA) says interested parties have upto 30 days submit their tenders for the proposed construction of the dam which, among others, is expected to reduce perennial flooding on lower reaches of River Nyando.
According to the agency, most of the previous tenderers failed to submit relevant documents required for prequalification, while the few who met the threshold quoted over and above the governments’ allocated budget for the mega project.
The new tender placed by NWHSA acting CEO Sharon Obonyo cautioned that tenderers who’s quotes will be above the budget estimate will be declared non-responsive.
“Tenders must be accompanied by a tender security of US $ 1.9 million from a reputable bank approved by the Central Bank of Kenya,” said the advert.
Ms Obonyo indicated that returned bids will be opened on September, 18, 2020 in the presence of the candidates or their representatives.
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The Soin-Koru multipurpose dam is proposed to be a zoned rockfill dam with impermeable clay core and water storage capacity of 93.7 million cubic metres.
The dam, according to authorities, will control flooding that happens in parts of Kisumu county and will also be used for irrigation and power generation.
The dam to supply water for domestic use, irrigation and hydropower generation will provide 72,000 cubic metres per day of water for domestic and institutional use and water for irrigation of 2,570 hectares of land and generation of 2.5 megawatts hydropower.
Among others, the water will be supplied to Kisumu City and its surrounding.
The dam has also been earmarked as an offsite infrastructure and a viable project, critical for the operation of 1,000 acre Kisumu Special Economic Zones (SEZ).
The proposed dam development project will be located on river Nyandoat the border of Kisumu and Kericho counties.
According to NWHSA, the project will change the socio-economic landscape of the area.
The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) is currently in the process of auditing environmental suitability of Soin-Koru dam.
