Residents of Makueni and Kitui will face yet another delay in the completion of the Ksh82 billion Thwake Multipurpose Dam, as the government announces a fifth postponement. Water Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa, who toured the site for the first time since his appointment, cited financial constraints as the primary reason for the delay.

“The embankment wall has been prepared and is ready for the embankment phase,” Mugaa reported. He added that the contractor estimates this phase will take approximately 162 days, or about 5.5 months, to complete, pushing the anticipated finishing date to mid-next year.

Previously, the project had been halted for two months due to funding issues, with Mugaa assuring residents that the government is in constant communication with the African Development Bank, the main financier. “We are working to fast-track the release of funds to move the project forward,” he emphasized.

This marks yet another setback for a project that has seen its completion delayed multiple times under different leadership. Former Water CS Zachary Njeru had vowed last October that the dam was 84.4% complete and promised a December finish, a projection that has now shifted.

Once completed, the Thwake Dam is expected to supply 150,000 cubic meters of water daily to approximately 1.3 million residents across Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos counties. The ongoing financial and operational challenges, particularly concerning the main contractor, China Gezuba Group, continue to plague the project’s progress.