Kwale County Governor Salim Mvurya is seeking compensation for the residents affected by the much-awaited Sh20 billion Mwache Multipurpose Dam project compensated properly before the official launch of the project slated for next month.
Mvurya said issues of land compensation and resettlement of affected communities should be resolved amicably before the project jointly funded by the World Bank and the national government begins.
Construction of the Mwache Dam is set to begin before the end of year. It is a priority investment by the Government as a flagship project of Vision 2030. The project was under the portfolio of the former Ministry of Regional Development Authorities (MoRDA) through the CDA working in partnership with Coast Water Services Board (CWSB).
Harness floodwaters
The project which was first mulled by CDA in 1995 has been delayed due to lack of funding. But now plans to begin construction were given fresh impetus when the government secured the required funding. Population growth and growing demand for precious water resources also accelerated the construction of the mega-dam.
The dam site is located across the Mwache River at the Fulugani village, Kwale County, about 22 km west of the city of Mombasa. The Coast Water Supply Master Plan identified the dam as the preferential, viable, and necessary long-term option for water supply to Mombasa and Kwale counties.
The dam is meant to harness floodwaters from Mwache River basin in Kinango Sub County and help tackle persistent water shortages in the coastal region. The Mwache Dam will be an 87.5 meter-tall concrete gravity dyke, impounding 118 million cubic meters for water supply and irrigation and is expected to boost the water supply for Kwale and Mombasa counties. The massive dam when complete is also expected to put 2,600 hectares of land under irrigation in Kwale County.
