Construction of the Sh 24 billion Karimenu II dam water project in Gatundu North, Kiambu County has entered the last phase and is expected to be completed in March next year, three months before the timelines that had been set earlier.
Laying of pipes along the 57-kilometer stretch where treated water from the dam will be supplied with Water Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Sicily Kariuki exuding confidence that the multi-billion project will be complete by early next year.
The project which hopes to serve one million people, she said is among the 600 water dam projects that the national government is putting up across the country with an aim of boosting water supply to areas that have been grappling with acute water shortage.
The CS said that above 45 percent of the national government’s project which is President Uhuru Kenyatta’s legacy has been completed adding that the contractor has instructions to expedite the remaining works 24/7 to beat the reduced timelines.
The CS who was on her routine inspection of the project made the revelations amid inadequate funds for land/way leave acquisition which has continuously characterized the project delay.
Since commencement of the project in 2019, land owners have been protesting and at times ejecting the contractor from the site over unsettled compensation.
From a presentation made by Athi Water Works Development Agency CEO Michael Thuita today, the project is lacking Sh 0.4 billion to finalize acquisition of way leaves for the pipeline and outstanding reservoirs sites to facilitate works.
In addition, inadequate budgetary allocation for the project amounting to Sh 5.1 billion could also delay the project further.
The CS however said that she will be in frequent engagement with Treasury CS Ukur Yatani to position and allow for more money for the project.
While dismissing as political incitements, the protests conducted by aggrieved land owners, the CS maintained that there is enough money for continuous construction works in the next six months.
Land acquisition which is being undertaken by the National Lands Commission (NLC) has been estimated to cost Sh 3.5 billion against which Sh 1.4 billion has been utilized, Sh 1 billion is available for ongoing compensation while a deficit of Sh 1.1 billion is still not availed.
Completion of the project is hoped to boost water supply to Juja, Gatundu North and South, Ruiru, Kiambu town and parts of Nairobi.
The project is being funded by the government and the China Exim Bank and is being implemented through a joint venture between International Holding Corporation (AVIC) and Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute.
The mega project has three main components among them the dam, water treatment plant of capacity 70,000m3/d and 67km of raw and treated water pipeline ranging from DN 500mm to 1,000mm.
Two terminal tanks will also be constructed of capacities 23,500m3 and 3,000m3 in Ruiru and Juja respectively.
Karimenu II Dam project entails construction of a Dam of 59m height and 26.5 Million m3 storage volume to produce 70,000m3/d per day of drinking water.