President William Samoei Ruto has announced that the Government has released KSh10.6 billion for the completion of the Thwake Dam, with works expected to be finalized before April 2027.
The President said the funding marks a major milestone for one of Kenyaโs largest water infrastructure projects, which is expected to transform the socio-economic landscape of the Lower Eastern region by improving access to water, boosting agriculture, and supporting industrial growth.
The Thwake Dam, located at the confluence of the Athi and Thwake rivers on the border of Kitui and Makueni counties, is a multipurpose project designed to provide safe drinking water, irrigate more than 40,000 hectares of farmland, generate 20 megawatts of hydropower, and enhance water supply infrastructure.
Once completed, the dam will have a reservoir storage capacity of 688 million cubic metres, making it Kenyaโs second-largest dam after Masinga. The project is expected to benefit more than 1.3 million people in Kitui, Makueni, and parts of Machakos counties, while also supplying water to the rapidly expanding Konza Technopolis.
The completion of the project is expected to unlock significant economic opportunities through expanded irrigation, increased food production, reliable water supply for households and industries, and improved livelihoods for communities across Ukambani.
Engineers describe Thwake Dam as a rock-fill dam with an impervious concrete face, standing approximately 80.5 metres high. Upon completion, it is expected to become a strategic national asset and a cornerstone of sustainable development in the Lower Eastern region.
The release of the KSh10.6 billion is expected to accelerate the remaining works, bringing the long-awaited project closer to completion and offering renewed hope to millions of residents who have anticipated its transformative impact for years.
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