President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday received a report on Kimwarer and Arror Dam Projects from the Technical Committee he formed, chaired by Principal Secretary for Infrastructure, Prof Paul Maringa. Also present were Principal Secretary for Interior and National Coordination Dr Karanja Kibichio and Principal Secretary for Water Joseph Irungu/PSCU
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 18 – President Uhuru Kenyatta has revoked the planned development of the Kimwarer multipurpose dam after a Technical Committee he constituted to review its feasibility returned a negative verdict.
The team chaired by Prof Paul Maringa, Principal Secretary for Infrastructure, found the Sh 22.2 billion project to have been overpriced and its financial viability in question.
“The only feasibility study carried out on a similar project twenty eight (28) years ago had revealed a geological fault across the 800 acre project area, which would have negative structural effects on the proposed dam,” a statement dispatched by State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena on Wednesday read.
“The Technical Committee also established that the project area is settled and would require compensation of displaced residents.
“According to the technical design of the Kimwarer Dam, the water supply mechanism would involve pumping, an aspect the Technical Committee found to be unsustainable in terms of operations and maintenance costs,” State House observed.
President Kenyatta however okayed the continued development of the Arror multipurpose dam under a rationalized plan.
“As part of the cost rationalization plan, the Technical Committee has prepared a new Bills of Quantities (BQ) for a modified dam with its height scaled down to 60 metres from the original design height of 96 metres which was found to be unviable,” the presidency announced.
The Arror multipurpose dam will now be constructed on a 250 acre piece of land costing Sh15.4 billion with the hydro power component factored in or Sh13.1 billion without power.
The dam was previously estimated to cost KShs 28.3 billion, State House noted.
About The Author
