Thwake Dam
| Thwake Dam | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Thwake Multipurpose Water Development Program |
| Country | Kenya |
| Location | Athi River, Kenya |
| Status | Operational |
| Designed by | China Gezhouba Group Company |
| Operator | Government of Kenya |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Height (foundation) | 80.5m |
| Website https://thwakedam.go.ke/ | |
The Thwake Dam or Thwake Multi-purpose Water Development Programme, is a dam complex being built on the Athi River in Kenya.[1][2] The dam is meant to be a multipurpose dam that provides drinking water, agricultural irrigation water, hydropower, and other water supply infrastructure.[1] Water storage is 688 million cubic metres and is meant for rural homes, Konza and other local jurisdictions.[1][2] The dam cost KSh. 37 billion and is being built by the China Gezhouba Group Company.[3] The Funding was provided by the African Development Fund.[4]
Phases
The construction and implementation of the project were divided into four phases:[5]
Phase 1: Construction of the structural dam wall and spillway downstream of the Athi and Thwake rivers. The wall is 80.5 meters high, holding 688 million cubic meters.[6] The construction started on March 27, 2018 and its completion was to be in November 2022 but was delayed due to funding and Covid-19 pandemic and is set to be completed by June 2025.[7][8]
Phase 2: This is to implement the dam's hydropower system with a capacity of 20 MW and water treatment plants.[9]
Phase 3: Focuses on the water supply and sanitation infrastructures to serve the populations around Kitui and Makueni. A water waste management system was also developed as part of this phase.[5]
Phase 4: This is aimed at the development of the irrigation scheme around the dam to cover 40,000 hectares.[5]
pollution concerns
The need for potable water from the dam led to a number of conservation projects upstream, trying to create better clean water, such as in Ondiri Wetland.[3] Moreover, many industries had been discharging directly into the river.[3] In July 2021, the dam was criticized by auditor Nancy Gathungu for the lack of clean and safe water to be retained due to pollution locations like Athi River.[1][10]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Otieno, Jullias. "Uhuru: Thwake Dam construction will be complete by June next year". The Star. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- 1 2 "Thwake Multi-purpose Dam project timeline and all you need to know". Construction Review Online. 2021-07-13. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- 1 2 3 Koech, Gilbert (25 October 2020). "Nema shifts focus to Athi after Nairobi River cleaned up". The Star. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- ↑ "Kenya - Thwake Multi-purpose Water Development Programme – Phase I". projectsportal.afdb.org. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
- 1 2 3 Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation (2024). "Terms of Reference: Consultancy Services to Undertake Stakeholder Awareness and Community Sensitization Communication Campaigns on Dam Break and Emergency Preparedness" (PDF). Government of Kenya. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation (2025). "Terms of Reference for Identification of Dam Management and Operations Agency" (PDF). Government of Kenya. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Marita, Bosco (2024-10-02). "Thwake Dam phase 1 to be complete by June 2025 - CS Muuga".
- ↑ Wanza, Prudence (2024-06-18). "Thwake Dam project hits milestone with completion of embankment area". KBC Digital. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ↑ ResearchGate (2024). "Probable Project Charter: Thwake Multi-Purpose Dam Project". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ↑ "Sh81b Thwake Dam project water 'unfit for human use'". People Daily. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2021-07-27.