As the scorching sun beats down on the dusty border between Makueni and Kitui counties in Kenya, a hive of activity buzzes around what is set to become one of Kenya's most ambitious water projects.
Thwake Multipurpose Water Development Program, a colossal structure promising to transform the lives of millions in the Lower Eastern region, is taking form, but slowly, perhaps too slowly. Its construction is now a race against the clock as the deadline for completion nears.
On a recent field visit, a group of officials from the African Development Bank arrived at the site, their expressions a mix of awe and concern. Led by the Task Manager Ms Nancy Ogal, this wasn't just any ordinary tour. It was a supervision mission with a clear message: Hurry up.
"December 8, 2024: That's our deadline, and we must meet it," Ms Ogal emphasised.
As they toured the site, the project's sheer scale became apparent. This 80.5-metre-high dam will eventually hold back 688 million cubic metres of water - enough to fill over 275,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. It's an innovative project, but one that's not without its challenges.
"We must close all the pending Non-Compliance Reports in good time," Ms Ogal urged the contractors, consultants, and implementers, during the four-day mission.
At almost 85 percent completion, the dam is excitingly close to fruition, with the spillway also near completion, a testament to the progress made. However, other crucial components lag - the embankment dam at 68 percent; the low-level outlet at 58 percent; and the intake tower at 40 percent.
Kenya's Water Secretary, Eng. Samuel Alima, reiterates the project team's commitment to meeting the deadline. "The Ministry is keen on meeting the timelines," he assured the AfDB team.
Thwake Dam is not just another infrastructure project. It is a cornerstone of Kenya's Vision 2030 and a key component in the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. Once complete, it is a game changer. It promises to provide water to 1.3 million people, generate 20 MW of hydropower, and irrigate 40,000 hectares of land. It's a dream of progress and prosperity, currently taking shape in concrete and steel.
As the day wound down and the Bank team prepared to leave, a palpable sense of cautious optimism was in the air. The challenges are significant, but so is the potential impact. Every day counts for the millions of Kenyans waiting for the waters of Thwake to transform their lives.
The project is closely aligned to four of the Bank's High 5 operational priorities, namely: "Light Up and Power Africa" (through its contribution to increasing power generation, especially from renewable sources); "Feed Africa" (via the irrigation phase); "Industrialize Africa" (in view of the water harvesting and addition of 20MW to base load generation, some of which will cater for industrial uses); and "Improve the Lives of the People of Africa" (through provision of portable water to an estimated 1.3m beneficiaries).
It is further aligned to the African Union's Agenda 2063, which champions equitable and sustainable use and management of water resources for socio-economic development and regional cooperation as part of creating a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth.
When complete, the project is expected to create opportunities for investments as well. "We see opportunities for investors to set up industries and create jobs for the youth in the various sectors," the Bank's Director General for East Africa, Nnenna Nwabufo, had said during a previous visit to the project site in 2022.
Eng Alima described the development as "a key flagship project, a legacy project, and a game changer whose full implementation will change lives of thousands of residents in Makueni and Kitui counties as well as neighbouring areas", getting Kenya closer to meeting its goal of universal access to water by 2030.
